Ruins of Empire
previous: Formation of Empire
Our Empire's prosperity lasted until five hundred years before the writing of this account. At that time, Michael Roele, the only scion of the line, had the foolish audacity to challenge the Gorgon. Slipping into the Gorgon's citadel, Michael braved untold dangers to face his kinsman, the most powerful of the awnsheghlien.
Unsurprisingly, he was slain by the Gorgon. Upon his death, the Empire crumbled despite the efforts of the Chamberlain—my forefather, Aedan Dosiere. Everyone who had anticipated vying for Michael's crown and his Iron Throne found themselves with a very good chance of achieving their dreams. But instead of trying to preserve the Avonlaer Empire, the power-hungry dukes and lords cared for nothing but claiming the Iron Throne for themselves.
Continuous civil wars racked Avonlae for more than 70 years after Michael's death. The subject peoples—the Rjurik, the Brechts, and the western Khinasi—rebelled against our chaotic rule and reclaimed their own destinies. The men and women ruling in Anuire desired only their greater glory, and ignored the needs of the Empire as a whole. The regents and kings sought each other's heads rather than minds, and kingdoms rather than kinship, hoping to become ever more powerful.
Of course, the chaos couldn't go on forever. Eventually, the two most powerful warring factions—the Boeruines and the Avans—signed a peace treaty, and the rest of the shattered Empire settled down enough that approximate borders could be drawn. A score of bloodlines and new kings emerged from this chaos.
Today, the bulk of the land remains uneasy and divided. The people yearn for peace, but every ruler believes that he and only he is the one to bring it to Cerilia. Because of this, the land is forced to endure needless strife and will continue to do so until a true leader emerges from the many bloodlines. All the land needs is the hand of a wise and noble leader to guide it, and the Empire could be reborn.
Unsurprisingly, he was slain by the Gorgon. Upon his death, the Empire crumbled despite the efforts of the Chamberlain—my forefather, Aedan Dosiere. Everyone who had anticipated vying for Michael's crown and his Iron Throne found themselves with a very good chance of achieving their dreams. But instead of trying to preserve the Avonlaer Empire, the power-hungry dukes and lords cared for nothing but claiming the Iron Throne for themselves.
Continuous civil wars racked Avonlae for more than 70 years after Michael's death. The subject peoples—the Rjurik, the Brechts, and the western Khinasi—rebelled against our chaotic rule and reclaimed their own destinies. The men and women ruling in Anuire desired only their greater glory, and ignored the needs of the Empire as a whole. The regents and kings sought each other's heads rather than minds, and kingdoms rather than kinship, hoping to become ever more powerful.
Of course, the chaos couldn't go on forever. Eventually, the two most powerful warring factions—the Boeruines and the Avans—signed a peace treaty, and the rest of the shattered Empire settled down enough that approximate borders could be drawn. A score of bloodlines and new kings emerged from this chaos.
Today, the bulk of the land remains uneasy and divided. The people yearn for peace, but every ruler believes that he and only he is the one to bring it to Cerilia. Because of this, the land is forced to endure needless strife and will continue to do so until a true leader emerges from the many bloodlines. All the land needs is the hand of a wise and noble leader to guide it, and the Empire could be reborn.
