The Empire of "The Great"

The naming of all of this is still very much up in the air right now, which is due in part to the whole D&D/story mix I've got going in this creation. For the purposes of just being able to write this article I suppose we will call the empire/reflection Malaq, and the emperor Iskar Jarak, although both of those are SOOO plagiarized they will need to be revised at some point or another. Basically here we are going to be mashing up Alexander the Great with National Treasure and the whole "return of the king"/"find the stuff, resume the throne" thing that pretty much every nation pining after lost glories has.

Summary

Back when the Malaq reflection was first solidifying, a first great leader/general/emperor rose and united the planar refugees who had been making the place their home for the past generation or three. This was roughly 400 years previously, (which I think I pegged at like 15 or 29 generations?). Regardless, Iskar was a full-on Alexander the Great: united all there was to see, great conqueror, lots of public works, big ego. A part of his conquest was his regalia, which I think I pegged at like 6 artifacts? Maybe 8, I forget, and I suppose over the time the number can vary anyways. Regardless, Iskar had a series of extremely potent relics that contributed vastly to his success, all of which were very well known, and each became symbols of his rule in their own right. On his deathbed he split these relics up and hid them, saying that the one truly worthy to succeed him would be able to find them in a time of need, save the people, etc. Also like Alexander, his empire fell apart to violent infighting shortly thereafter. However, the cultural bonds he created installed a significant enough sense of unity across the reflection that it has managed to stay mostly intact to the present day.

Historical Basis

There was a man who united what is currently the Malaq reflection, and he did in fact (by the end of his conquest/reign) have a number of incredibly powerful and well-known artifacts which greatly assisted his efforts. Some he received as gifts, won in battle or through quests, but one he started with when he came to the Funhouse, and it is this one that must be found first in order to begin the search properly and reclaim his mantle. Many warlords and would-be emperors have risen in the centuries since his passing, but none have managed to unite even half of the land that Iskar ruled at his height. Some have claimed to have found some of the relics, and that their conquest is necessary in order to find the others. And based on stories passed down, it is entirely possible that others of the 8 have surfaced in the past. The first relic, the one that legend says is the key to a worthy rule, and finding the others, has never been verified since Iskar's passing however. Some have tried to manufacture fakes, or ridicule the story, but these people always seem to fail far more spectacularly than the others. While many view it as superstition, and most have given up on the scepter(?) being found before its time, if ever.

Spread

There are stories of Iskar Jarak everywhere in the Malaq reflection. He is without a doubt the greatest and most successful leader the reflection has ever had, and planar scholars agree that to this day his existence and legend is a significant part of the reason that the reflection remains intact. The closest neighbors of the reflection (especially those with longer memories, such as denizens of The Never) also still remember him, however he is not especially well known Funhouse-wide.

Variations & Mutation

The largest variation on the legend comes in the question of exactly which items count as the official "regalia" and which are simply famous. Some say there were 6 items, some 8, and people argue over which ones were found where. Some of the more famous ones, such as his sword and shield, have shown up throughout the ages, but again there is much debate over which kings and rulers to follow him actually unearthed on or another, and which ones used clever replicas in order to bolster their own rules.

Cultural Reception

The denizens of the Divershplain are the only significant population that does not view itself as directly descended from the old Malaq empire, mostly because they remain fiercely independent. In many ways however they still define themselves by their struggles against the empire, and any impostors that have risen after the fact, and so even for them, Iskar Jarak remains a large part of their culture. Not exactly sure how all of that will function, but I'm thinking some solid Aiel/cult of Coltaine notes from them. Either way, no significant play for large scale conquest has been made since his death that did not call back to him in some way, shape, or form.

The 6/8 Artifacts of the Regalia of Iskar Jarak:

1. Scepter-Said to grant magical power over legions of constructs, and other fell armies
2. Sword*-Magic sword. Good for killing things, causing division
3. Shield*-Magic shield. Grants protection, and not just of the body, or only to the one wielding it.
4. Crown¹-Symbol of authority, unity, and is said to grant knowledge, discernment, and an ability to see the truth when surrounded by lies.
5. Ring-Said to be tied somehow to wealth, resources, and even loyalty, when used properly.
6. Map-Key to many of his battlefield victories, as well as managing the empire as it grew every larger.
7. Gauntlet-The iron fist of imperial rule
8. Banner*-Granted strength of heart and purpose to all allies who gazed upon it, and struck fear into the hearts of enemies.

Date of Setting

-400ish (compared to the current Ravenhill calendar I've got running)

*Most commonly believed to have been rediscovered periodically throughout the ages.
¹ The first piece of the regalia, which must be found before all of the others, and which is buried beneath the Graven Citadel in Korel.