Ruthless, industrial, and militaristic, the Empire’s single-mindedness is reflected equally in all its citizens: the zealous Xadaganians, brutal orcs, and brilliant Arisen. Subjugated and humiliated by the Kanians millennia ago, the injustice still remains hot in Xadaganian blood and purpose, and extends to all aspects of the Empire’s citizenry. Legend has it that the Great Mage Nezeb roused the nomadic Xadaganian people and led them in righteous war against the malevolent Kanians. The leader of the Empire, the Great Mage Yasker, continues his crusade against the League from the Empire’s capital allod. Supported by the swords and shields of the orcs and the arcane mastery of the Arisen, the Empire has constantly kept the League on the defensive. In contrast to the League’s singular worship of Tensess, the Empire follows the Trinity Church, where Tensess, Nezeb, and Skrakan are worshipped equally. Religion is an unimportant part of Empire life, however, and the Xadaganians are just as likely to worship Yasker, the Arisen focus on scientific pursuits, and the orcish Reavers strive to convert only their own people.



The Empire’s military might is backed by ingenious Arisen technology, melding the arcane and scientific. The League has also lacked the Empire’s command of the Astral, allowing the Empire to continually bring war to the League. This precision is reflected in the Empire’s economy, where weapons, food, and other necessities are planned and executed by the central government. Prejudice is still deeply ingrained within the Empire citizenry, despite the Great Mage Yasker’s efforts to curb the Xadaganians feeling of superiority and prejudice towards their orcish and Arisen comrades. The Arisen remain indifferent towards their role of inferiority, so long as they can continue their experiments unhindered. Meanwhile, the orcish Shamans continue to hope that an Orc Great Mage will rise up, so that the orcs will no longer rely upon the Xadaganian Great Mages to protect their allods, allowing their race greater power and freedom within the Empire.





The Xadaganians



Once fragmented into southern tribes of nomads, the Xadaganians were united by the Great Mage Nezeb and led from the desert into a more fertile land. With the territory already occupied by the Kanians, a war spanning four millennia was sparked between the two nations, continuing to this very day. Eventually securing a new homeland, Xadagan is now a totalitarian state of military power united under the Great Mage Yasker. Viewing the democratic system of Kania as weakness, the Xadaganians believe that if a country lacks a single leader, its people lack unity.



Ready to sacrifice themselves for the supremacy of their state, every Xadaganian is brought up as a warrior, and remain so irrespective of their current occupation. Unlike the Kanians, the people of Xadagan are dark skinned, dark haired, and more slender. Preferring urban life to meadows and forests, the cities of Xadagan represent the state’s supremacy and industrial expertise, and are filled with majestic buildings and a cumbersome bureaucratic machine.



With their natural dexterity and deceitful nature, the Xadaganians make skilled Stalkers. Harnessing the power of the Light through the Trinity Church, Xadaganians are powerful Inquisitors and righteous Avengers. Determined to win by any means possible, the recent study and mastery of Shadow magic has led to accomplished Savants. Understanding the power that the mind can have, Xadaganians can be excellent Mentalists, controlling and twisting their enemies’ minds to their own needs. As a result of their strict military training, Xadaganian Vanquishers are extremely adept at defeating their foes with brute force and their expertise with an array of weapons.

The Orcs



Often viewed as simple-minded brutes, the orcs are a power loving race that is known for their large stature and green skin. With no Great Mages of their own, after the Cataclysm the orcs were unable to protect their allods. Knowing they were weak and vulnerable, the orcs were forced out of necessity to ally themselves with Xadagan and receive assistance from their Great Mages. Though grateful for the protection, the orcs continue to search for their own Great Mage, hoping that soon they will gain greater independence and equality within the Empire.



Primarily nomadic and preferring wide and open spaces, orc settlements consist of temporary structures that can easily be abandoned. With each tribe following its own primitive laws, despite the suffocating rule of the Empire, the majority of orcs are still savage and anarchic, resulting in little unity within the race. Like most savage and anarchic beings, orcs tend to leave nothing but destruction in their paths.



Possessing incredible strength and power, as well as being quite intimidating due to their sheer size, orc Brutes comprise the backbone of the Imperial Army. Utilizing their natural hunting skills, orc Marauders are excellent at hunting down and destroying their enemies. Thought not a magically inclined race, orcs who do learn to harness the power of nature make brilliant Shamans, providing inspiration to warriors and tending to the wounded. Recently discovering the Trinity Church, a number of orcs have converted and learned to control Holy magic, becoming powerful Reavers--blessed warriors determined to defeat their foes and enlighten their own people.

The Arisen



Originally part of the Zem civilization, the oldest human kingdom of Sarnaut, the Arisen were once human: tall and slim, with dark skin and amber eyes. Now undead creatures whose rotting bodies are augmented with mechanical parts, the Arisen are a powerful ally to the Empire. Raised by the powerful necromancer Tep, the Arisen view him as both their creator and their curse. While the League immediately began eradicating the first Arisen who emerged from their tombs, the Empire recognized their remnants of humanity and the potential gain in acquiring them as an ally. Quickly agreeing to the Empire’s proposed alliance, the Arisen now primarily live in Imperial cities.



Extremely intelligent, yet gloomy and unsociable, the Arisen spend the majority of their time dedicated to the study of science and technology, as well as searching for the existence of their mysterious creator. Always striving to increase their mental superiority, the Arisen are constantly looking for new disciplines to study, as well as perfecting the ones they’ve already mastered. Though their comrades often joke about these strange people, whose mummified flesh has been replaced by mechanical parts, both Xadaganian and orc will kill any who offend these new allies.



Because of their superior mental competency, the Arisen are the most powerful Occultists in the Empire, crushing their enemies with the sheer strength of their minds. Naturally adept at controlling the shadowy powers of life and death, the undead Arisen make for unparalleled Defilers, instilling new life into those once thought to be dead with ease. With their natural inclination towards the mastery of magic, as well as their inventive use of technology and science, the Arisen are also known to be first-rate Sorcerers. Always looking for new disciplines to study and perfect, the introduction of the Trinity Church led to many Arisen learning to master Holy magic, becoming fearful and talented Heretics.