The Calradic Empire and thereafter.

Origin of The Empire.

The Calradic Empire first began as exiles known as The Calradoi, named so in honor of their leader Calradios 'the Great.' Calradios lead the exiles northward from the sea and established the colony of Charasea known now as Charas. The decedents of Calradios spread like wild fire throughout the region. Many tribes fell before their swords, by flame and sword they subjugated and enslaved the unprepared. Two major colonies formed from the chaos, Pravend and Ortysia. Pravend was given the honor of becoming the seat of The Calradic Kingdom in the 154th year After the Calradic Conquest. The Kingdom stood unshaken for decades until a king known as Cypegos took power. Cypegos was not Calradic but of Palanic blood. His tyranny grown from stripping the rights of the people but also of the nobility. Fatefully, The Great Rebellion sparked within the heart of the kingdom leading to toppling of Calradios' Lineage. 

Rising Eagles.

The Calradic Empire formed from the joining of two forms of governance. The Monarchy, now being led by House Xenoi, and The Senate, a congregation of powerful men within The Empire's borders. The Senate governed the empire's internal affairs while The Monarchy led the realm in times of war and crises. The Imperial armies marched across Calradia, establishing a firm border between them and the Battanian's to the North and conquering cities along the coast from Dryic and Palanic alike collimating in the capturing of Danunstica in the far east. Yet as The Empire expanded, the harder it became to govern and protect.

The First Crisis.

In the Year 324 ACC, The Senate petitioned Emperor Rhodos to hire a New People that had arrived from the west known as Valandion who, unlike most of the Barbarian Tribes, where perfect for civilizing. The Emperor at first rejected the idea of allowing Barbarians into the military until a large Battanian Warband numbering in the thousands came down from the mountains. With The Imperial Army spread thin, The Emperor personally came to the Valandion chieftain and presented a deal. In exchange for their unending service to The Empire, they would be given land along the western coast. The combined forced of The Praevian Guard and Valandion Tribesmen, they managed to force The Battanians into a mountain pass in which great boulders were pushed from atop the cliffs forcing The Warband into retreat. 

Murder on The Senate Floor.

During the latter half of the 4th century, The Senate began to question the need for an Imperial Family as they saw no need for The Senate to be limited by any Authority greater than itself. The Senate called for Emperor Percian to attend The Senatorial Meeting the coming winter solstice. The emperor along with his wife came to the meeting expecting to discuss the ongoing war with The Aserai tribes to The Far South, yet as the meeting began it became apparent that this was a coup. Outraged by this, The Emperor drew his sword and began to fight The Senators but ultimately was killed trying to protect The Empress who in turn was slain as well. With The Emperor dead, The Senate seized control of The Empire but lost the faith of The Military. 

The Crowned Eagle

In 402 ACC, The Empire was plunged into war. The Senate, trying to maintain power, had stripped the nobles of their rights to hold land intern giving the land back to the state. By doing this, The Senate caused a Second Great Rebellion lead by Theodoro Vesta who was given divine revelation by a deity from the east though he could not name the god. The War lasted near twenty long years, until finally Theodoro and His Crowned Eagle standard flew high over the walls of  Pravend. Yet, in a bold move, he moved The Imperial Capital to Jalmarys where it sits to this day. 

Valandion Betrayal

For near five hundred years, The Empire held firm, rising and falling economically before tragedy struck. The emperor had passed unexpectedly and a civil war began to brew between warring houses. Yet during the chaos, The Valandion mercenaries took key cities and seperated themselves from The Empire in 735 ACC. Yet in order not to be wiped off the face of the earth, they bribed an Imperial Candidate for an alliance in order to secure their own borders from Calradic invasion. As if by divine providence, The Imperial Candidate was chosen for The Throne before establishing an official alliance with the newly formed Vlandian Kingdom. 

Prelude to Civil War

In the year 790 ACC, Emperor Arenicos died. His clan members found him collapsed within his chambers, yet lacking a legitimate heir a great debate began within The Senate who believed it was their right to appoint a new Emperor, lest they be ruled by The Wife of the late Emperor. The Senate elected someone they believed to be fit for Emperorship, a Senator by the name of Lucon who grew in popularity due to his history of military victory. To the west, a man named Garios came to prominence claiming that Lucon's victories where due to his actions, therefore he should be given the recognition and title of emperor. Many believed him within the softer parts of The West. Yet to the south, many traditionalists looked to the wife of Emperor Arenicos, Empress Rhagaea.

Waring States Period

By the summer of 794 ACC, a senate meeting was held to discuss the disputed succession. Yet as representatives arrived from each Triarchy of The Empire, there was a notable absence of each side's leader. As they waited for each ruler to arrive the distinct smell of smoke began to fill the chamber. It is not known who started the fire or how it came to be this way, but the senate building within Jalmarys burnt to the ground with many senators still inside. Each successor claimed the others to be responsible, thus began The Civil War.

Mors Occidentalis et Septentrionalis

For nearly two decades, The Calradics waged war upon eachother. Leadership being handed between one person and another. Lucon, died at the hands of a Sturgian Warchief. Garios, fell ill and died upon his horse outside of Danustica and Rhagaea poisoned herself during the siege fearing capture. The Northern Empire suffered massive land loss, much of the land being taken by Sturgians and strange nomadic tribes. Likewise, The Western Empire lost control of much of the territories bordering The Battanians. The Daughter of Rhagaea, Ira was the soul claimant of The Imperial Throne and thus took command of The Southern Empire.

Ira's Reconquest

The Fall of 812 ACC, Empress Ira of The Southern Empire, declared war on The Western Successionists. While her campaign was slowed by the Battanian auxiliaries and former Imperial Cohorts, much of the former Imperial land was reconquered, including the first colony of Ortysia. To the north, very few free Imperial cities remain, as most had been taken by Sturgian Warbands. These free Imperial cities had long resisted Northern and Southern influence until their resolve was swiftly crushed by Imperial steel. Though pushes where made to reconquer cities taken by Sturgians and Battanians, it ultimately proved fruitless and many cities where lost. 

Thereafter

In the Spring of 863 ACC, Empress Ira passed in her sleep surrounded by loved ones. Her eldest son Calradios took the throne in the Fall of that year, however during his coronation the sun turned black. Many took it as a sign of another crisis sent by the very Maker himself. Emperor Calradios ruled for thirty long years, repelling Sturgian and Battanian incursions. Emperor Calradios still reigns today, his body beginning to succumb to old age. Yet he persists on as his twin sons Garios and Alenicos both vie for power in hopes of taking the throne for themselves.

Society of Calradics

• Religion of Theodoro. 
  With the crowning of Emperor Theodoro Vesta in 403 ACC, he proclaimed his faith in a god unlike any that had been heard of before. For instead of promoting military might and expansion, this god preached kindness and mercy. Theodoro referred to the god as The Maker, of whom all things came. His faith began to attract more and more officials to this minor religion until a majority of The Imperial Bureaucracy and Military became known as Makervists. While there was much push back near the beginning, soon most of The Empire converted willingly or not.

• Calradics in War.
  In mainland Calradia, The Imperial Legion function as separate forces instead of one incohesive warband akin to Battanian Barbarians. A singular Legion was split into ten cohorts made up of six centuries comprising around 4,200 legionaries and 300 equities. Each Century was led by a Centurion who would see to maintaining discipline among the ranks during battle. The life of a legionary is hard, but lucrative. After ten years of service, a soldier will be given a pension and government issued land as a reward. However very few soldiers actually live to see these rewards due to the constant wars and backstabbing that can happen even under the most attentive centurion.
  

• Calradics at Home.
  To call a Calrad a scoundrel is like calling a snail slow. Calradics are often taught from a young age that you need to fight in order to survive, thus many of them take to soldiering or shady deals that result in a couple of corpses. The Calrads have a sense of fierce independence and pride which has resulted in many a scuffle against those who are not Calradic. However, one redeeming factor of Calrads are their sense of loyalty to those who have helped them. This help could range from helping on a far or planning a coup, so long as you treat them as friends, they will follow you till the ends of the world.