The Sanctus Imperium (SI)

Origin:
The Imperium was born from the great Elven war well over a thousand years ago, a single leader emerged from the great campaign against the Magic-wielding Elven Lords. After the final battle at Valor Hill, all the tribe leaders elected this leader to become their new ruler, a man respected far and wide for his honor, courage, and skill in battle. Eagen Vareylen was his name, his family sharing golden yellow hair and often times blue eyes, the man was considered a Hero of Old, and a massive statue was built in his honor splitting the massive river known as the Gleaming Channel. He personally began the construction of his people's capital city of Avalon, a task that would take hundreds of years and multiple generations of his line went past before it was completed.

Expansion:
Now that they had a foothold, they could truly expand their reach, marshalling their Armies and proceeding westward towards the Shining Sea in the west, his Great-grandson Alvion Vareylen led a campaign that tripled the held lands of the Imperium as they pushed the Naga, a race of serpent-like creatures from the seas back into the ocean. While they were there they discovered a race of winged creatures which they called Griffons, these creatures they learned to tame while they sent other forces North across the frozen body of water called the Frozen Depth, only to encounter the savage Raiders, who resisted the invaders with an unseen level of brutality and lethality, resulting in most the commanders sent north to dig in and hold out until reinforcements could arrive. However they did not arrive in a way that they expected, men riding flying beasts barreling into the Raider's camps and cleaning them through with one fell swoop, the Imperium came to establish the Griffon as their flag after the decisive victory in the Northern Territory.

Golden Age:
Now that the Imperium had secured all the land they needed, the crown divided the captured lands to various commanders and popular families, granting them lands they could use to build functioning economies, and of course keeping some for itself around their capital. These various houses gradually built up under the protection of the Crown and the Imperial military. This time lasted for hundreds of years.

The War Of The Orc:
Following hundreds of years of peace and prosperity, the Imperium became the jewel of humanity, but out of nowhere a new threat emerged. Having been hidden in the hills and mountains for many years, the Orcs finally emerged, entering a campaign against which the Humans had not experienced, they cleaved their way into Imperial lands and almost managed to take the Capital, however the king personally rode out on horseback followed by nine elite Soldiers, which rallied the people into fighting back, those who were left in the city poured out against the Orcs which turned the tide and sent them back into the hills. Many fled North while a few remained in the South, camps for their tribes and the occasional fort can now be seen, but they are no threat now. Those nine men who followed the king into battle were dubbed as part of the elite Royal Guard, and statues were erected for them on the outer wall of the city, to commemorate their bravery.

The Blood War:
Unbeknownst to most of humanity, another group began to emerge from the North, an Army which the likes that no man had seen before came down from the Icy Tundra beyond the Hinterlands, they had a thirst for blood and began to make war against the Humans in the region. They were called Vampires, a group of Humans and Elves who went far enough North to discover a relic of an age long since past, the Corpse of a massive demon, though the beast was dead, blood still coursed through it's veins, they were compelled to drink some, transforming their bodies into lethal weapons when they willed them to be. They struck mostly at night, making the war near-impossible to fight, using unknown magics and feasting to their hearts content. And this persisted for some time until the Capital was informed, once it received reports of the ongoing siege to it's Northern Border, the Crown ordered the creation of a military group who relied on magic instead of steel, and thus the Battle Mages were created for the armies of men. These mages made quick work, outnumbering the Vampire host with the support of the Noble armies in the Hinterlands, and another enemy was pushed back into the shadow, though not much is known about the Vampires beyond their origin, we believe we had defeated their leader in battle, which caused them to retreat. The Battlemages in the aftermath were recognized, and the Crown granted them a district in Avalon and a college nearby to train more mages.

The Imperial Chain of Command:
The Emperor: Member of the Royal Family, current ruler of the Imperium.

The Military Command: Comprised of the Lord Commander, Wing Commander, Ship Commander, and the Mage Commander, different leaders to represent the different parts of the Imperial Military around the world, each respectively maintaining their own unit.

The Magistrates: The supreme judges and lawmen of the Imperium, while out of court they answer directly to the Emperor, in court they sit on equal level as him/her, there can be only three magistrates.

The High Priest: The leader of the Church has a say of what goes on within the Empire, compelling different people to do different things in the name of the Light, this can either prove to be detrimental or a boon to the leaders of the Imperium.

The Nobility: Various prominent houses or families around the Imperium's territory, most were directly established by the Emperor's of older days, given to trusted friends who could watch the land and save the crown resources.

Mayors: Within the Crownlands, instead of noble families having ownership of towns or villages, you have mayors who fill the same role, but are utterly replaceable, giving the crown ultimate power in the region.

Minor Nobility: Where there are prominent houses, there are houses that have gradually lost power over the years, sometimes becoming a vassal to another house, and other times fading into nothingness.

Knights: A Knight within the Empire is a warrior of great skill who has done a great service to a Lord or even a King, they have been granted lands and titles.

Soldiers: Warriors who have joined the Royal Army, effectively serving as House Vareylen's own forces. They are well trained, dedicating five years of their life to perfecting various methods of combat.

Commoners: People who live within the Imperium.

Slaves: House slaves are popular, most houses would have them, they are not mistreated, food is provided, as well as clothing and shelter. Although individual treatment varies from home to home.

Special Titles:
Among the Imperium several titles hold great value to the people, and some inspire fear at the very mention of their names.

The Masked Ones: The Emperor's shadowy elite guard, it is the ultimate honor to serve among these masked men, their reach is endless, and their skill unrivaled, part assassin, part bodyguard these men have taken a series of vows. Including a vow of silence, unwavering loyalty, and of course they have surrendered their names, as once one joins this group, they are not one man, but many.

Rangers: Rangers are the Marshals of the Imperium, traveling the land and overseeing the protection of the general people and when they are called to action, joining the Armies in war, trained in the use of Archery and various other weapons, these men and women have multiple purposes, and during times of peace represent the Magistrate throughout the land.

Knight: A noble warrior, granted titles and lands, and those who each hold their own lands and command their own forces. They are generally recognizable by the heraldry on their shields or armor.

Religion:
The Imperium follows the Religion of Light, a worship that idolizes all things bright. Glory, justice, and power are principles and part of the tenants of this religion, it is lead by the High Priest in the Cathedral of Light in Avalon, where the priests conduct sermons to people, while there are many religions few are as confirmed as the worship of the Light.

''"Light, guide me through the darkness, allow my sword to become a beacon of your power as I smite the unworthy from this world." -A prayer muttered by Imperial Soldiers before battle.''

Current Events:
The Imperium finds themselves in a delicate situation at the moment, a prominent house from the Mountain Region has made an attempt on the Monarch's life, claiming it as retribution for a past slight, but the Magistrate has sentenced the man who attempted it to die.