The Empire

Description
The Empire is a powerful nation that occupies the western regions of The Golden Continent. It controls much of the Dark Lands and the forests on the west coast. The Empire is ruled from the obsidian castle at Imperium.

Political Structure
The Empire is governed by the Praetor Publius, also known as Ilkios Zylon. A mildly democratic body known as the Imperial Senate also exists, but it has no actual power. The castellan of Imperium, the demon known as Onyx, is the second most powerful person in the Empire.

Founding
The Empire was founded in 213 B.A. when Cleon I united several of the warring and nomadic tribes of the Dark Lands. His success was due in part to the divine guidance of the Face of Evil, which orchestrated the Empire's creation to wreak havoc on the world. The Empire expanded in secrecy until it controlled all the Dark Lands during the rule of Cleon III in 157 B.A..

The First Imperial War
Imperial ambitions then turned east. Under Cleon V, Imperial forces lauched a surprise attack on the Confederation city of Venzor in 13 B.A.. The Battle of Venzor was a stuning victory for the Imperial Army and it marked the start of the First Imperial War. The Empire scored more victories against the Confederation and the Golden Kingdom. Most notable are the Battle of Redwater, the Battle of Westerly, and the Battle of Balmoral. The Imperial war machine was finally thwarted at the gates of the City of the Sun in 5 B.A., when the Ancients intervened and helped the Golden Army to repulse the attackers. The war was concluded when the Imperial Army was crushed at the Battle of the Tower in 4 B.A.. Simultaneously, the Emissary, a servant of the Ancients, infiltrated Imperium. They killed Cleon V and banished the Face of Evil from this plane.

Interregnum
Following the Emperor's death, the Imperial Senate took control of the Empire. They governed for only one year before they were overthrown by the charismatic Colonel Ilkios Zylon, who declared himself Praetor.

The Second Imperial War
In 2 B.A., Richard, Duke of the West, successfully persuaded the Golden Kingdom to launch an attack on the Empire to remove the threat to its western border. This launched the Second Imperial War. Initially, the Golden Army successfully drove the Imperial forces back along the northern coast. Finally, the Praetor himself took command of the Imperial Army during the Battle of the Peaks, and the Golden Army's advance was halted. As of 2 B.A., the war rages on.