Alaspanar

1. The Dawn of the Earth Empires
The Zervesi, often known as the Earth Elves, emerged as one of the most powerful and ancient races in the Aina Continuum, shaped by the violent upheavals of the First Black Fire War. In the wake of that cosmic conflict, two great empires rose from the ashes of the old world: Han Alaspanar in the north and San Alaspanar in the south. These twin bastions of the Zervesi people were each molded by the ambitions, fears, and philosophies of their rulers—Branon in the north and Thanon in the south. Their stories would be forever intertwined with the fate of Zerthia.

2. Foundations of the Earth Thrones
Both Han Alaspanar and San Alaspanar were established as sanctuaries for the Zervesi survivors who had fought and endured the horrors of the Black Fire. These realms were not mere refuges but were founded on the ideals of reclamation and dominance. The Zervesi believed they were the chosen children of Aranon, the High God of Earth, destined to impose their will upon a world fractured by chaos. From these seeds of pride and entitlement grew empires that, while similar in heritage, would diverge into vastly different paths.
3. The Age of Ascendancy
In the early days, both empires prospered. The Zervesi were masterful builders, their cities a marvel of stone and living earth, where trees with trunks like marble twisted up to support towers that gleamed in the sunlight. Vast libraries held knowledge rescued from the flames of war, and their armies, clad in glittering green and gold, marched in disciplined ranks, each step a testament to the power of the Earth Elves. The ascendant Zervesi were united in their belief that they were the rightful heirs to the ruined world, and they would reclaim it piece by piece.
4. The Great Divide
Though Branon and Thanon were brothers and both sons of Aranon, their philosophies could not have been more different. Branon, ruling from the high forests and mountainous citadels of Han Alaspanar, believed in a balanced approach to governance. His rule was defined by a measured hand, where the goal was to guide the Zervesi towards strength without losing sight of their heritage. Thanon, however, saw such moderation as weakness. From his capital in San Alaspanar, he built a society driven by fervor and conquest, uniting his people under a banner of purity and zeal.
5. The Cradle of Han Alaspanar
Han Alaspanar, nestled amidst towering pine forests and silvered mountains, became a beacon of Zervesi culture and discipline. Branon was revered not only as a ruler but as a guardian of tradition. He encouraged the study of ancient magics and the maintenance of Zervesi customs, which were upheld by the great houses that formed his court. His realm became a place of deep reflection, where scholars, poets, and warriors alike could thrive. Yet, this was not a land without ambition—Branon's warriors patrolled the borders of his empire with an iron grip, ensuring that none could challenge his rule.
6. San Alaspanar: The Forge of Fanaticism
Meanwhile, San Alaspanar rose like a blade from the scorched plains and desert oases of the south. Thanon’s realm was one forged in fire and blood, a society where might made right, and where only the most zealous were permitted positions of power. His capital, Amarth Enor, was a fortress city built to intimidate and to endure, its basalt walls towering over the arid landscape. Here, Thanon’s vision of a new order took root—a society that viewed any deviation from their creed as heresy, and heresy as a death sentence.
7. The Crusades of Thanon
Driven by his vision of a "pure" Zervesi dominion, Thanon launched a series of brutal crusades, known to history as the Purification Wars. These campaigns were characterized by their unrelenting cruelty; entire villages were razed, their inhabitants enslaved or massacred, all in the name of the Old Foundation—the divine order Thanon claimed to restore. His armies, driven by both religious zeal and fear of their own rulers, spread like a plague across the lands of Zerthia, enforcing a brutal inquisition that sought to cleanse the world of all that was deemed impure.
8. The Council of Seven Eeirendelios
At the core of Thanon’s empire were the seven Eeirendelios, the gods of his Iron Circle, who acted as his lieutenants and enforced his will. These powerful beings, each embodying a different aspect of Thanon's crusade—from healing and protection to strength and retribution—were both feared and revered. Their influence permeated every aspect of San Alaspanar’s society, from the temples to the battlefield, where their divine powers fueled the fanatical fervor of the Zervesi soldiers.
9. Branon’s Approach to Diplomacy
While Thanon pursued conquest, Branon employed a different approach. He believed in the importance of strategic alliances and maintaining a balance of power. Han Alaspanar opened its gates to select human, dwarven, and even orcish emissaries, with whom Branon sought to forge bonds based on mutual respect and common goals. His willingness to negotiate did not come from weakness but from a desire to preserve his people’s strength for when it would be most needed.
10. The Library of Eternal Stone
In the heart of Han Alaspanar stood the Library of Eternal Stone, a repository of knowledge that chronicled both the glory and the folly of the Zervesi. This was more than just a library; it was a place of great learning where the lessons of the Black Fire War were taught, and where Branon’s advisors debated the merits of policy and philosophy. It was said that those who studied within its halls could hear the whispers of the earth itself, guiding them in times of uncertainty.
11. The Iron Legions of San Alaspanar
Contrasting the reflective nature of Han Alaspanar, San Alaspanar was a land of war and iron. Thanon’s legions, known as the Iron Legions, were brutal and efficient. Trained from birth in the arts of war, they believed themselves to be the righteous arm of the gods, and their faith was their armor. They swept across the land like a storm, leaving scorched earth in their wake, and any who resisted were shown no mercy.
12. The Council of Souls
The ruling elite of San Alaspanar maintained their authority through the Council of Souls, a tribunal that judged and punished those who were accused of heresy or treason. The council’s methods were infamous: torture, public executions, and mass burnings were commonplace. This council was not just a mechanism of control but a tool for purging dissent and instilling fear throughout the empire.
13. Conflict on the Borderlands
As the years passed, the ideological divide between the two empires grew. Han Alaspanar sought to protect its borders and avoid needless bloodshed, while San Alaspanar expanded relentlessly. The two realms began to clash in the contested borderlands, where blood was spilled and ancient grudges were nurtured. What began as skirmishes over territory and resources soon escalated into full-blown wars.
14. The Rise of the Twilight Brotherhood
Within Han Alaspanar, a secretive faction known as the Twilight Brotherhood emerged. Comprised of renegade scholars, rangers, and defectors from San Alaspanar, they advocated for a more aggressive stance against Thanon’s empire. They saw Thanon’s crusades not just as a threat to Zervesi unity but to their very existence. Their voices grew louder as the incursions from the south became bolder.
15. The Southern Inquisition
In San Alaspanar, the Southern Inquisition, led by Thanon himself, sought to root out any perceived heresies. Their relentless pursuit of purity knew no bounds, and their operatives infiltrated every level of society. The Inquisition’s spies were feared for their ruthlessness, and the mere accusation of dissent was enough to bring down the full weight of the Inquisition upon one’s head.
16. The Battle of the Veiled Pass
The simmering tensions between the two empires erupted in the Battle of the Veiled Pass. Branon’s forces, fortified by the natural defenses of the northern mountains, clashed with Thanon’s legions in a brutal struggle for control over a key strategic location. The battle raged for days, the ground soaked in blood and the air thick with the cries of the dying. Though the Zervesi of the north held their ground, the scars of this conflict would run deep.
17. The Shadow of Te Nesavatar
As the struggle between the two empires continued, a darker shadow loomed—Te Nesavatar, the Bringer of Death. The whispers of his return spread through both realms, stoking fear and paranoia. Some in San Alaspanar saw this as a sign that their crusade was righteous, while in Han Alaspanar, the priests warned of a coming calamity. This fear of an unseen enemy drove both sides to more desperate measures.
18. The Death of Thanon
The fate of the southern empire was sealed in the fiery battle at the Gates of Hell. Here, Thanon met his end at the hands of Te Nesavatar himself. The Bringer of Death, summoned by Thanon’s own ambition and hubris, struck him down, and with his fall, the empire of San Alaspanar began to crumble. Without their leader, the Iron Legions faltered, and the zealotry that had once driven them became their undoing.
19. The Repercussions in Han Alaspanar
The news of Thanon’s death sent shockwaves through Han Alaspanar. Some believed this was a sign that the gods favored Branon’s more measured rule, while others feared it was only a matter of time before the chaos spread north. Branon, ever cautious, began to fortify his defenses, preparing for a possible invasion from the remnants of the southern empire or worse—the forces of Te Nesavatar.
20. The Fracturing of San Alaspanar
With Thanon’s death, San Alaspanar splintered. Various generals, priests, and council members vied for power, turning on each other in a bid to claim the mantle of leadership. The crusades ceased, and the Iron Legions, once a single-minded force, dissolved into warring factions. The southern empire, once feared, became a land of ruin and bloodshed.
21. Branon’s Final Years
In the twilight of his reign, Branon abdicated the throne of Han Alaspanar to Atron Sinodanios. Tired of the endless strife and aware that his people were becoming decadent and cruel, Branon chose to walk the lands as a mortal. His departure marked the end of an era, and with his absence, Han Alaspanar began to slowly change, the ideals of the old order fading with him.
22. The Long Decline
In the years that followed, both empires continued to weaken. Han Alaspanar, without Branon’s steady leadership, faced internal strife as factions within the great houses clashed over the future of the empire. Meanwhile, the shattered remnants of San Alaspanar lingered as a grim reminder of the dangers of fanaticism and unchecked ambition.
23. A Legacy of Blood and Stone
Today, the ruins of San Alaspanar stand as a testament to Thanon’s hubris and the folly of his crusades, while the libraries and citadels of Han Alaspanar echo with the memories of a once-great civilization that tried to balance pride with wisdom. The tales of these two empires serve as both a warning and a lesson for those who would seek power without regard for the costs.
24. The Echoes of the Past
Though the Zervesi empires of Han Alaspanar and San Alaspanar have faded, their legacies remain embedded in the land and the souls of those who still walk it. The stories of their rise and fall, their triumphs and tragedies, continue to be told across Zerthia, reminding all who listen of the thin line between glory and ruin.

Type

Geopolitical, Empire