The Age of Humanity

The Hiatic Empire lasted over 1,000 years (796-1843), spanning nearly the entire continent of Dulnaeria. Human tribes spreading south from the Antakka basin began trading with the elves of the Ootharia jungles about 1,500 years ago. Within five centuries Antakkan trading posts were ubiquitous in every major settlement. The human capital, Hiatia received large tributes from its closest neighbors, as its armies had grown substantially on the taxes collected from trade.

As the human’s population exploded, they settled in the homelands of other races, specifically the elves, draconics, plains dwarves and halflings. Bringing not only their culture and customs with them, the human settlers brought their religion with them. While elves were primarily primal tribes, the humans believed in the Immortal Orders. This blended well with the dwarves ancestor worship, as various exemplars of their people were simply added to the roster of the 100 Immortals. The primal spirits of the elves were eventually recognized by the Astral Ascendant (highest priest) as the 1000 Spirits. Draconic beliefs from this time are unclear, but believed to be a form of dragon cults. Shown the relative ease of lifestyle and lack of servitude that the followers of the Order enjoyed, many draconics quickly fell under the sway of Hiatic culture as well.

During the course of the Empire’s history, most of Dulnaeria was divided into ten prefectures. Each of the ten Prefects answered only to the Emperor himself, and it was their representatives (or rarely, the Prefects themselves), who ensured that the selection of the next Emperor was a peaceful process. Within the prefectures, a number of kingdoms would arise. Within the kingdoms, baronies. Within the baronies, counties would form to surround the towns and cities and their nearby farmlands, mines and other resources. Often, the Prefects would divide and re-divide their kingdoms upon the deaths of the existing kings and queens, to drive up tax and tributes. This practice was so prevalent by the Empire’s fall, that the largest prefecture, Insallach, consisted of 20 separate kingdoms, 84 baronies, 116 counties, with only 32 towns or cities between them. With so much of the military in the hands of squabbling nobles, it is no great surprise that the Empire fell so quickly before the 10,000 Demons.

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