Part 1: The Creation of the Empire
The Thessaric Empire, a vast and shining dominion guided by law, magic, and faith, once spanned the heart of Ethelra, centered around the radiant imperial capital of Thessaria — a city of marble spires, gilded domes, and arcane brilliance.
Unity from Chaos
In the late Age of Divinity, as whispers of corruption and dark cults spread across Ethelra, mortal city-states — primarily human, but allied with elves and dwarves — found themselves facing rising threats.
The ascension of the Triad — Vorandor, Malgathar, and Lessarith — nearly shattered the fragile balance of mortal civilization. Hidden cults, forbidden rites, and growing instability threatened to consume the land.
At the moment of greatest peril, Myranthus the Dawnsinger revealed the full breadth of the Triad’s corruption to mortal champions.
In response, city-states set aside centuries of rivalry and distrust, forging a grand coalition of armies, mage circles, and priesthoods.
Together — under divine guidance — they waged the final, desperate campaigns that led to the Triad’s banishment.
The Birth of the Empire
When the war ended, that hard-won unity did not dissolve. Inspired by their triumph and guided by the teachings of Myranthus, the leaders of the great city-states swore oaths of enduring cooperation and mutual purpose.
From this alliance rose the first true mortal empire of Ethelra: the Thessaric Empire, founded around 1650 years before the Upheaval (c. 1650 BU).
It was built upon five pillars:
Law: A code of fairness and justice to safeguard the realm from chaos.
Trade: Prosperity through shared markets and sustained cooperation.
Magic: The disciplined governance and advancement of arcane study, overseen by imperial mage circles.
Faith: Devotion to Myranthus’ ideals of hope, renewal, and service.
Duty: The elevation of the collective good above personal ambition.
The first Sovereign of the Thessaric Empire was crowned beneath the Dawnsinger’s Arch — not as a god-king, but as one chosen to embody the Dawnsinger’s light and guide mortals in unity and purpose.
Early Expansion
The empire rapidly expanded across what is now Célaine, western Vashkova, Calvessa, Tessarion, and Vel’Nathar.
At its heart stood the imperial capital: Thessaria — a resplendent beacon of wisdom, law, and culture, where golden domes met marble promenades and scholars walked alongside statesmen and priests.
Grand roads connected distant provinces, facilitating trade and the swift movement of armies.
Great academies, temples, and archives were established, drawing scholars, mages, and philosophers from across Ethelra to Thessaria and its provinces.
The early centuries of the empire were marked by stability, mutual prosperity, and the unwavering conviction that mortal civilization had found its destined purpose in enlightened unity.