An Overview of the Empire of Feraso
The rules of Leif III and Leif IV are considered the heyday of the empire, and are the exact timelines in regards to anyone longing for the days of Ferasean supremacy. Oddly enough, the people are absolutely correct. From 528 through 617, Feraso was at its peak, politically, militarily, spirtually, and technologically. Artisans and magical craftsmen from all over the world flocked to Feraso City to help build artifacts, many of whom are only mentioned in hushed tones today.
With the ascension of Leif V to the throne historical texts become sketchy as to specifics. Leif V immediately recalled most of the military adventures. Subsequent emperors (and an empress) oversaw a general decline. Outposts were recalled, treaties renegotiated on unfavorable terms.
In the end the mighty Ferasean Empire was betrayed by the races of demi-kind to the Galmar barbarians, there was little anyone could do but watch it burn. Leif VII was the last recognized Emperor and the direct bloodline apparently died out.
After years of chaos, in 846, a Galmar Warlord named Liufried, used a number of wars, treaties, and marriages to name himself Krugraf of a region known as Ras-Prythax. Except that Ras-Prythax is never used in old Ferasean documents.
The core lands form a very old, low valley of the Argivian name for the River Wultha: Prythax. Liufried's initial claim of Ras-Prythax stretches through that river valley. The nobility and rulers of Ras-Prythax are somehow unaware that the country's name is Argivian in nature. "Ras" meaning across, and Prythax for the river wandering north
For 160 years these "Barbarian Pretenders" to the true throne of Feraso claimed various skewed claims, but consolidated their power with the vestige of this eternal Ras-Prythax with the eclectic assortment of dominions.
Almost 75 years from this writing, Krugraf Theuderic I married Princess Jolana Timbertrees of Nitrava, a 5th cousin of the Emperor's extended family, forming possibly a faint claim to the throne, Thus begins the line of "True Pretenders" who appear to enjoy the lineage, but can not garner the power to make a true claim.
After the marriage, Theuderic arrested the entire Timbertrees family, threw them in a dungeon to rot, and bequeathed Nitrava to the Church of Akana as a religious Bishopric.
With only the most minor claims to the Imperial Crown, the rulers of Ras-Prythax continue to use "Krugraf" to denote the ruler of the Kingdom of Ras-Prythax and nothing more.
The First Ferasean Empire was carved out of the wilderness by ancient sorcerer-kings and warlords who appeared to be blessed by the gods for wading into battle shirtless. They defended the pristine landscape from the corrupting influences of the Argivians Artificers, the Pharaohs of Khemmet, and the Ancient Parthian tribes.
The names of these larger-than-life heroes has somehow disappeared from the written record, or even oral tradition. We are blessed with some scholarly work many years later, which listed many of their patron gods and spirits who allowed them to conquer everything
In no particular order:
Farmesk - The God of War
Surku - The God of Death, Lord of the Worms
Yotia - The God of Magic and Wizards
Kanar - The God of Chaos, The Dark One
.... and a host of others
Another field of debate is exactly where this empire was founded, and expanded to. Unreliable sources state this nation's influence from Senzar all the way through Parthia and into deeper Azir, but it's political influence was more likely the great Mer Med region. Based on archeological studies, the core region was possibly dominated by Argivia, Danaan, Barthey, and even the region known as the inhospitable lands of Milosic, none of whom are the lands claimed by Ras-Prythax, nor any of the original territory expanded upon by Leif I.
Despite what the bard of the Krugraf want all of us to know, the bloodlines were never fully determined after the fall of the empire, so Leif I could be related the original Ancien Emperors as much as you or I.
The Ferasean Emprie is a dream, a legend, a quest, but it is also dozens of different ages, actions, and evolutions. It is quite unlikely a fourth iteration of a united continent will come about, unless a non-reliance on monarchical government and the possession of a particular sword to approve the ruler are agreed upon.
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