THE HOLY ORENIAN EMPIRE

[The Holy Orenian Empire 280]

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.”

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CONTENTS

I. GOVERNMENT

II. LISTS OF NOBILITY AND GENTRY

III. IMPERIAL BUREAUCRACY AND FUNCTIONARIES

IV. STYLES AND TITLE USAGE

V. THE MEMOIR

 

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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, Peter II Sigismund of the House of Horen, by the Grace of God, Holy Orenian Emperor and rightful Emperor of Aeldin, Forever August, Apostolic King of Oren, of Renatus, Salvus, Seventis, Vandoria, Savoy, Mardon, and the Westerlands, Duke of the Crownlands, Cascadia, Avar, Frederica, Blackmarsh, and Marna, Count of Johannesburg, Alamar, Frederica, Krajia, Thesmer, Thelen, Lorath, and Cantal, Baron of Darkwood and Gravelhold, Defender of the Canonist Faith, Supreme Protector of Mankind, Master of the Lions of Man.

 

r. 1619 - present

 

 

THE IMPERIAL PRIVY COUNCIL

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

 

Imperial Archchancellor: His Excellency, Aeternius of Metterden [seannie]

• The Imperial Archchancellor is marked by the Signet of Saint Wilfriche. He charged to insure its stability and prosperity of the realm as its chief diplomat and minister. 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: His Excellency, Charles Augustus of the House of Horen [braybowski].

• 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 Excellency, Doncho Mirza Khan [Donchomirzakhan]

• The Lord Great Viceroy is marked by the Signet of Saint Thomas. He is charged to oversee and insure the fealty of the Imperial provinces and overseas territories.

High Magistrate: His Excellency, Thomas Staunton-Baden [GusanoArentonio]

• 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, Pepin of the House of Ashford de Bar [omnipotent_rage]

• 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.

Lord Privy Seal: His Excellency, Gawain ap Viktor. [___Jacko_]

• 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,  Edmond Henry 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.

High Admiral: His Excellency, Callan of the House of Gromach [Dewper]

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

Seneschal of the Crown: His Highness, Prince Philip Owyn of the House of Horen [Thatpyrodude]

• The Seneschal of the Crown is marked by the Signet of Saint Daniel. He is charged as the keeper of the crownlands and the capital works, responsible for its civil projects, construction and defense.

Lord High Constable: His Excellency, David Adler [wealthypiano]

• The Lord High Constable is marked by the Signet of Saint Charles. He is charged with the protection of the realm from threats both foreign and domestic.

 

 

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 Peter II Sigismund.

Her Imperial Majesty the Holy Orenian Empress Zoey of the House of Horen.

Her Imperial Highness the Princess Augusta Maria Horen.

His Imperial Highness the Prince, Philip Owyn, Duke of Furnstock heir presumptive

His Imperial Highness, the Prince, Charles Augustus

His Imperial Highness, the Prince, Alexander Dragas

His Imperial Highness, the Prince, Peter Louis

 

 

ROYAL NOBILITY

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

 

His Majesty the King Stephen I of Hanseti and Ruska.

Her Highness Victoria Catherine, Princess Royal, Duchess of Markev.

His Highness the Prince Otto Henry, Duke of Greywyn.

Her Highness the Princess-Consort, Catherine of Carnatia, Duchess of Greywyn.

His Highness the Prince Otto George, Duke of Alban.

Her Highness the Princess-Consort, Eleanor Alexandra of Metz, Duchess of Alban.

His Highness the Prince Siguine Otto of Greywyn.

Her Highness the Princess Isabella Teresa of Greywyn.

His Highness the Prince Henry Otto, Count of Bihar.

           Her Highness the Princess Tatiana, Marchioness-Dowager of Vasiland.

 

 

PRINCELY NOBILITY

• The princely nobility consists of those who lord over sovereign principalities alike. Though at this time none exist in such a manner.

 

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 Archduke of Lorraine Leufroy Augustus

His Grace the Duke of Carnatia, Sergius of the House of Kovachev

His Grace, Duke of Ostland, Frederick Augustus of the House of Horen-Preussen

[to be updated]

 

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 Count of Reims, Edmund of the House of Northbroek

The Right Honorable Count of Blackfen, Henrik of the House of Amador

The Right Honorable Count of Aven, Jacques of the House of Halcourt de Vasile

The Honorable Viscount of Brabant, Ayldan of the House of Blaxton.

The Honorable Viscount of Grauspin, Kristoff of the House of Stafyr.

[to be updated]

 

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 Baron of Leeuwenhof, Nicolas of the House of Rubens

His Lordship the Baron of Ostwick, Ian of the House of Highwind

His Lordship the Baron of Rytsburg, Adolphus of the House of Vyronov

[to be updated]

 

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 Maxwell Reeves

Ser Cullen Kovasek Valerin

Ser Anton Kyngeston

Ser Frederick Augustus

[to be updated]

 

 

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 CLOSED COUNCIL

The Council of Imperial Authority is an administrative and advisory body of the highest authority within the Empire -- apart from the Emperor himself, from whom they derive power -- managing the realm’s day-to-day affairs. The Council consists of a company of decidedly capable advisors and private counselors appointed by their sovereign, each of whom hold direct authority over their respective and particular aspects of Imperial governance

 

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 Grand Kingdom of Urguan: Vacant

Imperial Ambassador to the Dominion of Malin: Vacant

Imperial Ambassador to the City-State of Sutica: Vacant

Imperial Ambassador to the Orcish Warnation: Closed

 

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 formalised 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 a 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 characterised by his blunt statesmanship and grit, his liberation of the faith, his adaptation of the Canon scrolls, his unification of the kingdoms and his defence against dwarven incursion.

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

• The firstborn son of Sigismund, Otto was characterised 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 characterised 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 meagre 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 characterised 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 onto 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 an 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 renegade 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 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 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 characterised 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, organised 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 marshalled the Canonist forces and destroyed the armies of the Waldenians and their non-human 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 descendant 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 characterised 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, rumoured 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.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, JOHN II SIGISMUND, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• Responsible for the Anarchy, John II led the Empire through a period of rebellions and invasions, having to reign through an era of treachery and bloodshed; John II’s reign was mediocre, however, he, fortunately, gave way to John III’s reign.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, JOHN III OWYN, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• Perhaps one of the strongest Emperor’s to date, John III reigned in the Holy Oren Empire and lead it into a glorious state. His reign was pious, harsh, but grandiose. For no conflict was too great, nor too minuscule, John III lead the Holy Oren Empire with an iron fist and ensured no one man, woman, or child was defiant to his rule.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, JOHN IV AUGUSTUS, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• Whose reign was short, a maddened Emperor with a volatile state of mind. John IV was assassinated during court, by Andrik II King of Haense-Ruska in his aspiration for change throughout the Imperial dynasty.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, ROBERT I HENRY, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• Whose reign was brief, like the Emperor before he, for he sat upon the throne a mere two weeks. Abdicating to his brother, Philip I Frederick.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, PHILIP I FREDERICK, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• The last Emperor from the fifth Imperial dynasty, his reign was vicious, having declared war on the Dwarves of Urguan, with his advance upon their territories seemingly victorious. Which was until House de Savoie engaged in open rebellion for the execution of Jon Renault, who plotted to assassinate Philip Frederick.

 

 

THE MONARCHS OF THE SIXTH EMPIRE

From the ashes, does a Phoenix come forth; the sixth Empire, only time will foretell its existence.

 

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, JOHN V FREDERICK, HOLY ORENIAN EMPEROR

• The founder of the sixth Empire, with the backing of the three foremost Kingdoms which reigned over the divided lands of Man. Mardon, Lorraine, and Ruska, who came together at the behest of John V in his efforts to reunite humanity. While he was successful, his reign was unfulfilling, and in his absence, had the northern lords ventured southbound to demand his abdication.