The Empire

[Cracker 4570]

 

THE HOLY ORENIAN EMPIRE

“We were born from the very ashes of the Old Kingdom of Oren. We are the heirs to Horen and have continued Him by this Empire.”

 

 

CONTENTS

I. GOVERNMENT

II. LISTS OF NOBILITY AND GENTRY

III. IMPERIAL BUREAUCRACY AND FUNCTIONARIES

IV. STYLES AND TITLE USAGE

V. THE MEMOIR

 

I. GOVERNMENT

The government of Oren is an absolute autocratic monarchy with the monarch acting as the head of state with ultimate authority. Consequently, the laws of succession are those of agnatic primogeniture - the throne passes to the eldest male.

 

REIGNING EMPEROR

 

His Imperial Majesty JOHN II SIGISMUND of the House of Horen, by the Grace of GOD, Holy Orenian Emperor and rightful Emperor of Aeldin, forever August, Apostolic King in Oren, of Renatus, Ruska, Kaedrin, Haense and Salvus, Defender of the Faith, Duke of the Crownlands, Avar and Cascadia, Count of Pruvia, Alamar, Thesmer, and Thelen, Sovereign of Humanity, Suzerain of the Elves and Protector of the Dominion of Malin, etcetera.

(1547- )

 

 

THE IMPERIAL PRIVY COUNCIL

The Imperial Privy Council advises and aids the monarch in rule.

 

Imperial Archchancellor: Cardinal Stephen de Beaufort [Stefanos]

• The Imperial Archchancellor is marked by the Signet of St. Wilfriche. He wields penultimate authority in the Empire and is charged to preserve the crown and monarchy by all means possible, including in matters of succession.

Lord State Treasurer: Vacant

• The Lord State Treasurer is marked by the Signet of St. Tobias. He is charged as master of coin and coffer, responsible for managing the crown’s finances and allocating funding to public works.

Lord Great Viceroy: His Majesty, King Tristin of the House of Tresery [_Leric_]

• The Lord Great Viceroy is marked by the Signet of St. Thomas. He is charged to oversee and ensure the fealty of the Imperial provinces and overseas territories along with advising the crown in matters magical or exotic.

High Magistrate: Vacant

• The High Magistrate is marked by the Signet of St. Lucien. He is charged to update and codify Imperial law and oversee Imperial courts, delivering just judgement to those convicted of capital offences.

High Chamberlain: His Excellency, Baron Timothy of the House of Killeen [Alterazgohg]

• The High Chamberlain is marked by the Signet of St. Godwein. He is charged to act as chief herald and keeper of the King’s court and household, managing the palace as well as its audiences.

High Admiral: Vacant

• The High Admiral is marked by the Signet of St. Edmond. He is charged to oversee the Imperial navy and its naval operations.

Lord Privy Seal: Vacant

• The Lord Privy Seal is marked by the Signet of St. Adrian. He is charged to keep the monarch’s wax seal and draft his legislation.

Grand Knight: His Excellency, Ser Maric of the House of Horen-Vimmark [TauFirewarrior]

• The Grand Knight is marked with the Signet of St. Lothar. He is charged to oversee the Order of the Red Dragon and the Imperial Knights.

Metropolitan of Felsen and the Crownlands: Vacant

• The Metropolitan of the Crownlands, prescribed by His Holiness, the High Pontiff of the Church of Canon, sits in council advising the Emperor on theological matters. He is additionally charged with maintaining the Diocese of the Crownlands. Robert S. Price

 

And, in an Honorary Capacity, the Junior Council;

 

Imperial Seneschal:

Imperial Housekeeper: Maude

Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Ser Drevin de Sarkozy

Imperial Archiater:

Grand Almoner: Cardinal Stephen de Beaufort

Wolfcatcher Royal:

Grand Equerry and Master of Horse:

Grand Master of the Artillery:

Master of the Arbalest:

Master of the Hunt: Baron Timothy of the House of Killeen

Pertinax Maximus:

Imperial Executioner:

Hammer of the Empire: Robert S. Price

Master of Heraldry: Duke Adrian of the House of Rothesay

Keeper of the Swans:

First Architect to the Empire:

High Steward: John Edlund

Mayor of Felsen: Master Piero Gradic

Groom of the Stool:

Court Dwarf: Aengoth

Court Mage: 

Court Mouselmann: Dogan of the Steppes

 

II. LISTS OF NOBILITY AND GENTRY

The nobility and gentry of the realm serve the Emperor in ministering his provinces and peoples. In turn for their able service to the Empire, they are recognized with great honors and titles. All nobility of the realm attain their titles solely by imperial assent.

 

IMPERIAL ROYALTY

• The imperial family is the crux of the Empire as it provides monarchs of righteous birth. The Imperial Line of Horen acts as the Imperial House of the Empire.

 

His Imperial Majesty the Holy Orenian Emperor John II Sigismund.

Her Imperial Majesty the Empress-Consort Ari née House of Horen-Rothesay.

• His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince John Owyn, 2nd Prince of Alstion.
• Her Imperial Highness the Princess Madeleine Francesca.
• His Imperial Highness the Prince Alexander Sigismund, 1st Duke of Balemena.
• His Imperial Highness the Prince Joseph Frederick, 4th Duke of Furnestock.

His Imperial Highness the Prince Alexander Louis, 2nd Duke of Marna.

Her Imperial Highness the Princess-Consort Aurelia née House of Ashford de Bar, Duchess of Marna.

• His Highness the Prince Robert Frederick of Marna
• His Highness the Prince Leopold Francis of Marna.

Her Imperial Highness the Princess Phillipa Maria, Duchess of Courland.

His Holiness the High Pontiff Daniel III of the Canon, Vicar of God.

• His Highness the Prince Charles Philip of Furnestock, Viscount of Balian.
• His Highness the Prince Henry Joseph of Furnestock.
• Her Highness the Princess Julia Adelheid of Furnestock.

Her Imperial Highness the Princess Eleanor Elizabeth.

Her Imperial Highness the Princess Catherine Francesca.

 

ROYALTY

• The royalty consists of those who reign over an entire kingdom, vassal only to the Emperor himself. The only royal subject within the vast empire is the King of the Dominion of Malin, ruler of the elves.

 

His Majesty, the King of the Dominion of Malin, Tristin I of the House of Tresery.

Her Majesty, the Queen of the Dominion of Malin, Indra of the House of Tresery

 

PRINCELY NOBILITY

• The princely nobility consists of those who lord over sovereign principalities; an honor doled to the direct line House Ashford de Savoie, for delivering themselves before the Emperor, and the rulers of the sects of elves underneath the King of the Dominion of Malin.

 

His Serene Highness, the Prince of Savoy, Lucius I of the House of Ashford de Savoie.

Her Serene Highness, the Princess-Consort, Katerina of the House of Ashford de Savoie nee Sarkozic.

His Highness, the Prince of Laurelin, Artimec of the House of Camoryn.

His Highness, the Prince of Ebonglade, Dakir of the House of Desnox.

Her Highness, the Princess-consort of Ebonglade, Lielle of the House of Desnox.

His Highness, the Sohaer of Haelun'or, Kelthran of the House of Iyathir.
Her Highness, the Princess of Haelun'or, Avern'dionne of the House of Adriane

His Highness, the Prince-consort of Haelun'or, Almecki of the House of Surion

His Highness, the Prince of Fenn, Mylas of the House of Amant.

Her Highness, the Princess-consort of Fenn, Lilyana of the House of Amant

His Highness, the Prince John Leopold of Vandoria.

 

DUKES AND DUCHESSES

• The ducal nobility make up the great lords of the realms. They lord over vast swaths of land rife with lesser nobles sworn to their banner and are traditionally regarded to be the highest ranking peers to the emperor. The family of a duke is known as a great house.

 

His Grace, the 2nd Archduke of Lorraine, Lothar of the House d’Amaury.

His Grace, the 4th Duke of Istria, John of the House of Roswell.

His Grace, the 4th Duke of Courland, Alexander of the House of Staunton.

His Grace, the 1st Duke of Leone, Adrian of the House of Horen-Rothesay.

His Grace, the 1st Duke of Carnatia, John of the House of Kovachev.

 

COUNTS AND COUNTESSES

• The comital nobility lord over notable estates, though they often lack the extensive network of vassals and immediacy to the crown afforded to a duke. They intermediate between greater and lesser nobility and often provide various niches to the Empire. The family of a count is known as a noble house.

 

The Right Honorable 1st Count of Metterden, Eirik of the House of Colborn.

The Right Honorable 1st Count of Rese, Arthur of the House of Horen-Rothesay.

The Right Honorable 1st Count of Antens, Warwick of the House of Horen-Rothesay.

The Right Honorable 1st Count of Estavar, Henry of the House of Horen-Rothesay.

The Right Honorable 3rd Count of Krinfrid, Reinholt of the House of Helvets.

The Right Honorable 3rd Count of Drusco, Adrian of the House of Ashford de Bar.

 

BARONS AND BARONESSES

• The baronial nobility consist of the lesser lords of the Empire, often in both pedigree and ability, possessing of a single holding. The family of a baron is known as a masterly house.

 

 

His Lordship, the 3rd Baron of Kraken’s Watch, Britannus of the House of Vanir.

His Lordship, the 1st Baron of Meric, Uhtred of the House of Vallberg.

His Lordship, the 1st Baron of Killeen, Timothy of the House of Killeen.

His Lordship, the 1st Baron of Arnaut, Altaron of the House of Stafyr.

His Lordship, the 1st Baron of Virdain, Thomas of the House of Ashford de Aryn

His Lordship, the 1st Baron of Memel, Tybalt of the House of Therving.

His Lordship, the 1st Baron of Castern, Vitallius of the House de Capua

 

KNIGHTS

• Soldiers of capability and chivalry can be annointed as landed knights and gentry in the Empire. Their positions are not hereditary and their sons must squire in order to stand to inherit their benefices. This listing does not include holy knights, who are granted their title solely by the High Pontiff. The family of a knight is known as gentry, however they are not regarded officially as nobility.

 

Ser Maric Vimmark, the Beastmaster.

Ser Drevin de Sarkozy, the Black.

Ser Casper de Gueux.

Ser Fiske Vanir, the Bloody.

Ser Arwel Roke.

Ser Denis Ashford de Bar.

Ser Ulric von Aesterwald, the Pilgrim.

Ser Demetrios Palaiologos, the Inquisitor.

Ser Rael Acker, the Unburnt.

Ser Patrick Fitzroy.

Ser Michael Hightower, the Aengul

 

III. IMPERIAL BUREAUCRACY AND FUNCTIONARIES

The Holy Orenian Empire is reliant on various state run institutions in order to sustain and empower itself. These bureaucracies and functionaries are sponsored by the Emperor and his councils in order to better govern the state.

 

High Steward John Rogers, portrayed in Teutonic dress, 1555.

 

THE NAUZICA BRIGADE

The Nauzica Brigade is charged with maintaining palace security and protecting the Imperial Family. Reformed after the plethora attempts at John II Sigismund’s life, it is named after the Aeldinic Corps which fought under Charles Polycorp for his claim as Emperor of Aeldin, as well as serving as John I’s elite honorguard during the Eighteen Years War.

 

THE ORDER OF THE RED DRAGON

The Order of the Red Dragon is the combined conglomerate of all Imperial Knights in the Holy Orenian Empire. Headed by the Grand Knight, it was formed in the First Empire under the Prophet Godfrey’s command, to which it continues to stand as the testament of chivalry and the defense of the Empire. They are often employed as emissaries, administrators, and commanders in direct service to the crown.

 

THE IMPERIAL EMBASSY

The Imperial Embassy refers to the diplomatic service of the Empire, chiefed by the Imperial Archchancellor. It consists of the handful of Imperial representatives and ambassadors sent to the various sovereign courts of the civilised world, where they are expected to negotiate and serve the Emperor’s interests through pen and spoken word.

 

Imperial Ambassador to the Tsardom of Urguan: Vacant

Imperial Ambassador to the Kingdom of Vandoria: Vacant

Imperial Ambassador to the Princedom of Celein: Vacant

Imperial Ambassador to the City-State of Sutica: Prince Mylas

Imperial Ambassador to the Orcish Warnation: Vacant

 

THE IMPERIAL CROWN EXCHEQUER

The Imperial Crown Exchequer consists of stewards, tax-collectors, and merchants who influence tax policy and commerce in the Empire. Headed by the High Steward who is aided in this office by the Lord Mayor, the Crown Exchequer aids in managing crown revenues, capital administration, and distribution of urban properties.

 

IV. STYLES AND TITLE USAGE

Certain rules follow for each rank of nobility. These rules pertain to forms of address and proper use of titling, and make up the backbone of formalized court protocol.

 

In the Holy Orenian Empire there are certain honorific prefixes that are added to the front of a person’s formal title. The current honorific prefixes that can be attained are as follows and ranked in order of importance and magnitude:

 

His Imperial Majesty/Her Imperial Majesty (HIM) - The reigning Emperor/Empress and their respective consort.

His Imperial Highness/Her Imperial Highness (HIH) - The immediate bloodline (Siblings, children and grandchildren) of the Emperor, who style themselves Imperial Princes/Princesses. The consort of an Imperial Prince is entitled to style themselves Imperial Princess by virtue of her husband, however the consort of an Imperial Princess is not entitled to style themselves Imperial Prince by virtue of his wife.

His Serene Highness/Her Serene Highness (HSH) - The reigning Grand Prince of Savoy and their respective consort.

His Serenity/Her Serenity (HS) - The immediate bloodline (Siblings, children and grandchildren) of the reigning Grand Prince of Savoy, who style themselves Princes/Princesses.

His Grace/Her Grace (HG) - A reigning duke/duchess within the Holy Orenian Empire and their consort.

The Right Honorable (The Rt. Hon) - A reigning count/countess within the Holy Orenian Empire.

The Honorable (The Hon) - A reigning viscount/viscountess within the Holy Orenian Empire, however the eldest male child and heir of a duke/duchess or count/countess is also entitled to this prefix.

His Lordship/Her Ladyship - A reigning baron or baroness.

 

Specific rules for each rank are noted as follows:

 

IMPERIAL FAMILY AND GOVERNMENT

 

Emperors

Style: His Imperial Majesty (For full title, see beginning of this manuscript)

Letter Salutation: Your Imperial Majesty

Oral Address: Your Imperial Majesty, and thereafter as Majesty or Sire.

 

Empresses

Style: Her Imperial Majesty

Letter Salutation: Your Imperial Majesty

Oral Address: Your Imperial Majesty, and thereafter as Majesty or Ma’am

 

Imperial Princes (A brother, son or grandson of the Emperor)

Style: His Imperial Highness, the Prince

Letter Salutation: Your Imperial Highness

Oral Address: Your Imperial Highness, and thereafter as Sir

 

Imperial Princesses (A sister, daughter or granddaughter of the Emperor and the consort of an Imperial Prince)

Style: Her Imperial Highness, the Princess

Letter Salutation: Your Imperial Highness

Oral Address: Your Imperial Highness, and thereafter as Ma’am

 

Imperial Privy Councillor (Precedes all other titles held)

Style: His Imperial Excellency, the [Office]

Letter Salutation: Your Excellency

Oral Address: Your Excellency, and thereafter as My lord or Sir

 

PRINCELY NOBILITY

 

Grand Princes

Style: His Serene Highness, the Grand Prince

Letter Salutation: Your Serene Highness

Oral Address: Your Serene Highness, and thereafter as Sir or My lord

 

Grand Princesses
Style: Her Serene Highness, the Grand Princess

Letter Salutation: Your Serene Highness

Oral Address: Your Serene Highness, and thereafter as Ma’am or My lady

 

Prince (A brother, son or grandson of the Grand Prince)

Style: His Serenity

Letter Salutation: Your Serenity

Oral Address: Your Serenity, and thereafter as My lord

 

Princess (A sister, daughter or granddaughter of the Grand Prince and the consort of a Prince)
Style: Her Serenity

Letter Salutation: Your Serenity

Oral Address: Your Serenity, and thereafter as My lady

 

CLERGY

 

Pentarch

Style: His Eminence, the Pentarch [Surname]

Letter Salutation: Your Eminence

Oral Address: Your Eminence, and thereafter as Pentarch

 

Archbishop/Metropolitan

Style: The Most Reverend and Honorable, His Eminence, the Archbishop/Metropolitan of [Archbishopric/Metropolitanate]

Letter Salutation: Your Eminence

Oral Address: Your Eminence, and thereafter as My lord or Archbishop/Metropolitan

 

Bishop

Style: The Most Reverend, His Grace, the Bishop of [Bishopric]

Letter Salutation: Your Grace

Oral Address: Your Grace, and thereafter as My lord or Bishop

 

NOBILITY

 

Duke

Style: His Grace, the Duke of [Location]

Letter Salutation: My Lord Duke

Oral Address: Your Grace or My lord

 

Duchess

Style: Her Grace, the Duchess of [Location]

Letter Salutation: Madam

Oral Address: Your Grace or My lady

 

Count

Style: The Right Honorable Count of [Location]

Letter Salutation: My lord

Oral Address: My lord

 

Countess

Style: The Right Honorable Countess of [Location]

Letter Salutation: Madam

Oral Address: My lady

 

Viscount

Style: The Honorable Viscount of [Location]

Letter Salutation: My lord

Oral Address: My lord

 

Viscountess

Style: The Honorable Viscountess of [Location]

Letter Salutation: Madam

Oral Address: My lady

 

Baron

Style: His Lordship the Baron of [Location]

Letter Salutation: My lord

Oral address: My lord

 

Baroness

Style: Her Ladyship the Baroness of [Location]

Letter Salutation: My lady

Oral address: My lady

 

Knight

Style: Ser [Full name] the Knight of [Location]
Letter Salutation: Dear Ser

Oral Address: Ser

 

V. THE MEMOIR

The Memoir addresses past sovereigns who have had significant historical impact in the Empire or its predecessor states from the Phoenix Rebellion onwards.

 

 

 

THE MONARCHS OF AEGIS

The kings of Aegis are characterized by their disunity and nascent reigns, petty and primitive, teetering on tribalism.

 

HIS MAJESTY, GAIUS OF HOUSE MARIUS, KING OF HANSETI AND ALL EDEL

• The mystic founder of the Teutonic Order, King Gaius was fought against Iblees and human decadence, and his valor was so known that he was granted the crown of Oren by the decadent Sheffield dynasty. However, the local nobility of Oren were outraged at a foreigner being granted the title, and Oren split three-ways in the Pheonix Rebellion. He is a hero of Highlanders for his valor against the Undead and his restoration of Hansetic cultures.

HIS MAJESTY, EZEKIEL OF HOUSE TARUS, KING OF RENATUS AND ALL AAUN

• A Harrenite lordling in the Sheffield Kingdom, Ezekiel was raised by the Orenian nobility to oppose Gaius’ claim as King of Oren. An inept Harrenite King, his blundering led to Renatian’s downfall and near-extinction.

HER MAJESTY, DAWN OF HOUSE PEREA, QUEEN OF SALVUS

• A witch queen and rumored Saulician, Dawn and the old Sheffield and Perea royals took to exile from the bickering of Renatus and Hanseti to establish the kingdom of Salvus. A coalition led by Blessed Lorethos Basileus 'the Mage' succeeded in overthrowing her regime and delivering Salvus to the Prophet Godfrey in the realm of Asulon.

 

THE MONARCHS OF ASULON AND ANTHOS, PRE-EXODUS

It is by Godfrey’s hand that the realm was shaped into a righteous form of governance and where humanity began to establish itself as the dominant race among the descendents.

 

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, THE PROPHET GODFREY OF HOUSE HOREN, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• The third Prophet of the Canon, Emperor Godfrey’s reign was characterized by the formation of the feudal state and resurrection of matters spiritual. He is universally regarded as Oren’s greatest Emperor for the splendor and prosperity associated with his reign.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, HOREN OF HOUSE HOREN, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• Godfrey’s firstborn, Horen was characterized by sociopathy and madness. A violent warrior-king whose most significant accomplishment was the annexation of the elven states, he lorded over humanity’s military apex but chose to abandon Oren to conquer the realm of Aeldin, leaving his thirdborn William to rule.

HIS MAJESTY, MARK OF HOUSE DENUREM, KING OF HANSETI

• Whilst known by the heathen name of Mirtok by most, Canonist records have christened the vassal-king of Hanseti as Mark I. The last free king of Hanseti, Mark surrendered to Godfrey’s rule and became known as his primary military strategist. While a master of tactics, the Winter King was ill-suited for diplomacy with his noble peers, eventually entering a coalition war against House Flay, House Chivay, and House Carrion which spelled the demise of a legitimate Teutonic Order. He took to self-imposed exile in the midst of the war, ominously emerging multiple times to back pretenders and dissenters against the Oren throne. His last sighting was in 1477.

HIS MAJESTY, JOHN OF HOUSE BLACK, KING OF HANSETI

• Mirtok’s successor, John ruled for a brief time after his King took to self-imposed exile. He suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of the Dreadfort against House Flay and House Chivay and later died to the Black Scourge onslaught which took the Hansetian seat in the continent of Anthos, Castle Greywynn.

HIS MAJESTY, JAMES OF HOUSE HIGHTOWER, KING OF SALVUS

• A wild hedonist, James was afforded the Kingdom of Salvus after Dawn’s usurpation and ruled for over fifty years. His excesses are steeped in legend and disturbed much of the nobility; it was only after he wed and copulated with a dark elf that he was forced to abdicate to his firstborn, Garth.

 

THE MONARCHS OF ANTHOS, POST-EXODUS

The Exodus, spearheaded by Emperor Horen, was a mass migration of Oren nobility eastward. The vast power vacuum led to absolute anarchy which split Oren five-ways; unity and restoration was only resolved by the hand of the prophet Sigismund.

 

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, WILLIAM OF HOUSE HOREN, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• The thirdborn son of Horen V, William was thrust into his throne during the Exodus, a period of utter anarchy. Political missteps and the betrayal of critical councillors left William forced to abdicate to Silus Horen. He later served the Second Empire as Spymaster, Chancellor, and a Count.

HIS MAJESTY, SILUS OF HOUSE HOREN, KING OF RENATUS

• William’s cousin once-removed, Silus Horen, inherited the throne after his kindreds abdication. A known eccentric and dabbler in sorcery, he doled the crown to Ostromir Carrion, crowned Otto I, to continue his arcane pursuits.

HIS MAJESTY, GARTH OF HOUSE HIGHTOWER, KING OF SALVUS

• The successor to James Hightower, Garth swore fealty to the Dwarven nation after the Exodus, causing all other human nations of the period to swear fealty as to avoid being isolated. He is known as an ill-ruler, managing his estates poorly to pursuit carnal pleasures. He yielded his titles to Aron Hightower.

HIS MAJESTY, ARON OF HOUSE BEDEVERE, KING OF SALVUS

• A Harrenite King of Salvus, Aron was the last to rule over its capital, Kingston, as a great Orcish horde sacked the city whilst the dwarves turned a blind eye. After the fall of his capital, Aron swore to the Second Empire and yielded his titles to Ostromir Carrion, crowned Otto I.

HIS MAJESTY, LACHLAN OF HOUSE ELENDIL, KING OF KAEDRIN

• As part of William’s peace deal with the dwarven nation, the Emperor was forced to yield the Kingdom of Kaedrin to Urguan, where its Adunian vassals established a feudal state. This Harrenite polity was destroyed by the Prophet Sigismund and Lachlan forced into exile in Kal’Barbok, a dwarven hold.

HIS MAJESTY, MARCELLUS OF HOUSE FLAY, KING OF GALAHAR

• A common thug and opportunist, Marcellus abused the chaos of the period to establish a bandit kingdom across the Crimson Isles. However, by the holy word and command of the prophet Sigismund, Marcellus stood down his banners without fight and surrendered his titles, taking to exile for his crimes against man.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, THE PROPHET SIGISMUND OF HOUSE CARRION, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• The progenitor of the Carrion Vochna and sage of faith, the Prophet Sigismund was characterized by his blunt statesmanship and grit, his liberation of the faith, his adaptation of the Canon scrolls, his unification of the kingdoms and his defense against dwarven incursion.

HIS MAJESTY, OTTO I OF HOUSE CARRION, KING OF RENATUS AND SALVUS

• The firstborn son of Sigismund, Otto was characterized by his cruelty and low cunning. Seizing titles by abusing William Horen and Aron Bedevere, the Prince managed to filch two crowns to his name, though would later be forced into hiding due to a multitude of assassins after him, unable to inherit his father’s imperial throne.

HIS MAJESTY, OTTO II OF HOUSE CARRION, KING OF RENATUS AND SALVUS

• A junior vassal-king to Sigismund, Otto was little more than a boy of ten when he inherited and thus was unable to cope with the difficulty in governance. A taste of politic left him cynical and he took to the cloisters, abandoning his crown and forcing Sigismund to anoint his nephew as King.

HIS MAJESTY, HENRY OF HOUSE CARRION, KING OF OREN

• The prophet’s nephew, the warrior king Henry was characterized by his bold martial nature. A conqueror who challenged and broke the dwarven spirit with victory after victory, Henry was well-loved by the people for his bravado. Yet he was ill-trained for statecraft, leaving much of his administration to corrupt bureaucrats who abused the state for personal advantage and failed to address the religious unrest at hand. When he ignited a world war due to a rash military assault on an elven nation and died in combat, he left behind a decrepit state doomed to collapse from religious and civil turmoil.

HIS MAJESTY, FRANCIS OF HOUSE CARRION, KING OF OREN

• King Francis is the shortest ruling sovereign in the history of modern man, his reign a meager six months. A pontiff later laicized to serve the realm, Francis inherited after his cousin’s death, skipping over Henry’s boy heir given the war demanding a man to rule. However, he was soon caught in the wave of religious turmoil which plagued the nation and was assassinated by his own state retinue at the behest of the Order of St. Lucien and Bishop John of Darfey.

 

THE MONARCHS OF THE THIRD EMPIRE

After the death of King Francis, the House Chivay on the backs of Aeldinic soldiers returned to the western realms, claiming the throne as their own by right of conquest.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, PETER OF HOUSE CHIVAY, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• A baron who rose to King under Godfrey’s own reign, Peter Chivay was renowned for his intoxicating charisma and love for war. He accompanied Horen V in his Exodus but later turned back west at the age of eighty-nine to claim the now-vacant Oren throne. His reign was characterized by immense military victories and an uneasy peace; few would dare stir dissent against the ‘the Lion of Chivay.’ He passed too soon to consolidate the Chivay reign, however, leaving the throne to his nephew, Robert.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, ROBERT OF HOUSE CHIVAY, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• Peter’s quarter elf successor, Robert was well-learned but lacked his predecessor's other-worldly charisma. Far more diplomatic, his negotiations with Oren’s enemies angered his military elite whilst his elven nature and tolerance of pagans stirred dissent among the Raevirs and Carrion scions of his realm. A military coup launched by his own marshal, Vibius de Sola, took him out of power and put unto the throne Francis’ nephew, Boris Tuvic Carrion.

 

THE MONARCHS OF THE FOURTH EMPIRE

Whilst the Fourth Empire aimed to replicate the success of the Second, it was doomed to fail due to ugly politics that would not be resolved by a Carrion ruling as sovereign.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, BORIS OF HOUSE CARRION, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• The nephew to King Francis, Boris ruled for a year under a regency council due to a plague that incapacitated him. At the end of the year, however, his body was found missing from his sickbed and the lords were forced to find another king. They chose his father, Tuvya, crowned Tobias, as their Emperor.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, TOBIAS OF HOUSE CARRION, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• Elected by the Imperial Diet, Tobias was granted the crown in his seventies. Well-loved by the common people but disdained by the nobility, Tobias’ ended up making enemy of both of the recently subjugated Waldenians and his own knightly elite. He did not falter in face of them alongside the Undead threat, though, relieving the dwarven capital of Undead subjugation and besting his rebels in open skirmish. Yet when his youngest son, Yakov, turned corrupt and swore to Iblees, becoming a warlock, Tobias put aside his reign and sallied out with a band of his greatest warriors to slay the monster. He did not return his encounter with the Undead sorcerer until twenty years later under the reign of Olivier, leaving his son Aleksandr to inherit.

HIS MAJESTY, VORON OF HOUSE ROVIN, KING OF AESTERWALD

• After the usurpation of Emperor Robert, many pagans, Adunians, and Lucienists took north and established a freehold known as Aesterwald. The polity rapidly grew until a rogue priest crowned it a kingdom and its leader, Voron, King. However, Tobias could not tolerate an independent Aesterwald and immediately demanded its fealty. Voron, after months of deliberation, decided to pay homage to the Emperor, but as soon as the Renatian Rebellion commenced, Voron renegaded on his oaths and rebelled against his Emperor. He passed mid-war, leaving his heir, Arn, to command.

HIS MAJESTY, MARIC OF HOUSE VARODYR, KING OF RENATUS

• Grand Knight to the Emperor Tobias, Maric grew disenfranchised with his regime which focused more on populism rather than of the nobility and culture. He longed for the throne himself, and for his ambitions which bordered on treachery, he was fired from his post. When he was confronted with angry mobs who condemned his beliefs, the knight convened with noble peers and took to the Angren mountains, where they formed a rebel kingdom in homage to the Renatus of old. Whilst the fate of Renatus seemed precarious given Tobias’ military successes, the Emperor’s disappearance soon gave Maric soon the influence to break down the weak-willed Alexander Carrion and destroy the 4th Empire. His Kingdom, however, lacked the competent administration to manage statecraft, and thus was unable to cope and rally to defend itself from an Undead incursion on Angren. Maric was slain in the assault and his kingdom lost.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, ALEXANDER OF HOUSE CARRION, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• The mild-mannered however craven heir to Emperor Tobias, Alexander was ill-fit to handle the intrigue that surrounded his court. Countless Carrion claimants and cadet branches coveted his throne and undermined his ability to rule. When his own lord marshal, Varon Kovachev, seized Alexander’s fief of Karovia and proclaimed his own petty kingdom, the young Emperor yielded to pressures internal and external and surrendered to Maric’s host, forced into exile.

 

THE MONARCHS OF THE SCHISM AND SAVOY

It was from the ruin of the Fourth Empire that humanity could unify once more, with common enemies and common objectives.

HIS MAJESTY, ARN OF HOUSE ROVIN, KING OF AESTERWALD

• Whilst Voron was characterized as a moderate despite his virulent disdain for the Fourth Empire, Arn was regarded as pathologically cruel and genocidal in his hate against the Raevir people, putting him at odds with the High Pontiff Daniel, a bastard of House Carrion. He declared a schism from the Canonist Church because of the Pontiff’s blood but the war that ensued rapidly turned against him as mankind united in faith to crush his kingdom. His forces depleted in the senseless war, he was swift prey against the Undead and his kingdom lost to their unholy armies.

HIS MAJESTY, VARON OF HOUSE KOVACHEV, KING OF AKOVIA

• Known as ‘the Mad King’, Varon’s rule over Akovia was tumultuous at best. His populace had no love for the traitor, but they could not resist him in fear of a Waldenian incursion. They chafed under his rule as he appointed robbers and criminals to staff his councils until the stewards of Karovia, the Vanirs, organized a faction that deposed ‘Mad King Kovachev’.

HIS MAJESTY, ANDREW OF HOUSE VYDRA, KING OF AKOVIA AND OREN

• The Akovian regents appointed Andrik Vydra to succeed the Mad King. A minor noble of little history, Andrik, crowned Andrew, miraculously united and marshaled the Canonist forces and destroyed the armies of the Waldenians and their nonhuman allies. However, he was slain in a high elven trap after attempting to enforce demands of subjugation upon them.

HIS MAJESTY, OLIVIER OF HOUSE ASHFORD DE SAVOIE, KING OF OREN

• As Andrik left no issue, the lords of Oren gathered in a great council and chose among them Olivier Ashford de Savoie. A prominent Aeldinic nobleman and descendent of St. Lucien brought west by Emperor Peter, the mysterious figure rose through the chaos of the 4th Empire was poised to rule. He totally subjugated the elves and brought peace to Oren after Vydra’s long wars, ushering in a long age of relative domestic prosperity. However, nobles dissatisfied with his lax hand ignited the Duke’s War, a disastrous civil war for Oren. Whilst the crown claimed victory, it came at a heavy cost, leaving an Oren at a third of its military strength. The stress of war had also claimed the aged ruler’s life, leaving Oren without a secure successor.

HIS MAJESTY, GUY OF HOUSE ASHFORD DE BAR, KING OF OREN

• By vote among the remaining lords of Oren, it was Guy de Bar who was to succeed the deceased King Olivier. A lord of low cunning however an immense sense of bravery, the consummate pride and hunger for glory that would define Guy’s reign found little support outside of his own soldiery, further narrowing his manpower. His reign was mostly characterized by gloom and apprehension, one achievement of note being the diplomatic annexation of the Kingdom of Salvus. Already a target of assassins due to the political enemies he made in his ascent to power, it was three years into his reign that he was slain by a mad bishop, rumored to be under the employ of Metropolitan Charles-Francis.

 

THE MONARCHS OF THE FIFTH EMPIRE; THE JOHANNIANS OF AELDIN

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, JOHN I FREDERICK, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• The founder of the Johannian dynasty and Horen absolutism is the first foreign born Emperor over the Orenian peoples. Stubborn, shrewd, autocratic, and unloved, John’s reign was rife with internal dissent and foreign threats aplenty. Predators from both inside and outside the Empire had sought to see it dismantled in the precarious post-Dukes’ War period, however, despite facing calamity after calamity, John I’s twenty-one years of rule managed to preserve his carefully forged empire and annex sizeable assets from dwarven aggressors in the Eighteen Years’ War. He would be unable to see his ambitions through in establishing imperial absolutism and subjugating the dwarves, however, due to an untimely demise in the Siege of Dunland.