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EXALTARCHY of ARCHONNEN
NATIONAL INFORMATION
-Population: Circa 100 million~ inhabitants across all the regions of Archonnen.
-Faction: Justinian.
-Capital: Capitolopolis of Exalossa.
-Government Type: Exaltarchy/Exalted Bureacracy.
-Government Description: An Exaltarchy is a government which has been directly crafted by the Justinian themselves where one of the Apostles were elected its Exaltarch and instantly granted Divine Mandate. The nation is then inherited by the closest bloodline related hero or champion of the Justinian. Beyond the Exaltarch and their exalted family, the remainder of the nation is administered and operated through imperial bureacracy where various titles, such as that of the magnate and the archmagnate, are granted to deserving individuals. The roles of the magnate and the archmagnate are to administer some of the many noble holdings in the case of the magnate, or the administration of the various magnacies in the case of the archmagnate. All titles within the nation are effectively viceroyalties as such, allowing the Exaltarch the ability to remove any such titles from individuals, including noble roles, should the individual in question be unworthy of the title.
The Transference of Power, and the Empyrean Vows, as done by Exaltarch Empyraeos Gloria, 289 years ago, in front of his household guard, which would later become the foundations of the Infinite Army.
-Head of State: Exaltarch Armarossa Gloria the Splendid.
-Currency: The Exaltarchy employs Sacrosanctian currency, often referred to as "Sacros" by the common populace. It is referred to as Aequint Coins by the educated, due to their relation to the ancient Megasovereignty of the Aemos Imperios, which is of big influence in core Justinian lands.
-Languages: Majority Aemerine speaking nation, with a tolerance for Sancthiyin Elvish within its elven majority communities. Due to the massive convergence of languages, the nation has decided to enforce the Aemerine language due to ease of communication.
UNIQUE ATTRIBUTE INFORMATION
The Union of House Apollon and House Solis, 250 years ago, and the founding of the Great House of Apollis.
Firstborn amongst the Justinian crusader states, founded personally by the Justinian and its apostles, the Exaltarchy of Archonnen serves a form of role within the Justinian society which could easily be explained as a direct extension of Sacrosanctia into the nations of mortals. A unified, loyal Justinian nation, the Exaltarchy appears indomitable, monolithic, however waits patiently for its time amidsts the spotlights of the new world’s wars. One could surmise that the nation is more akin to a sleeping giant, as opposed to an active crusader state, its support of other fellow Justinian nations is mostly kept to supplies and equipment, of which there are many of fine quality.
- The Superstate - Justinianism is highly utilitarian, but above all, it is authoritarian to no end. As such, the Exalted State of Archonnen, headed by the Glorious Exaltarch Armarossa the Splendid, has seemingly endless reach into the affairs of common individuals. The Exalted State, represented by the Solar Eye, is an incredibly vast bureacratic institution that reaches as far as local trade and construction, with seemingly no end to its reach within the Exaltarchy. It is a highly paranoid existence, keeping tight wraps on secrets and does not enjoy unexpected occurences.
- Catalyst of Mortal Gods - Armarossa the Splendid, Exaltarch of the mighty superstate of Archonnen, is a highly powerful lord whom walks the Materium. His administrative efforts, and his apparent exemplorary Justinian personality grants him great favour with the One True God, Justinian. In so becoming the avatar for the three greatest of Justinian's Aspects; Wolfraum Azvorn the Dragon Eater, Sovereign Ultimatum of the Aemos Imperios, Apexus the Transcendant, Mortal God amongst Man, and lastly, The First, Founder of the Justinian Ideal, and the Aspect of the Beginning.
- King of Kings - The Exaltarchy is home to a colossal amount of Justinian heroes and champions, and has a hold on immeasurable power. However, the nation itself is ruled by recognition and legend, but most importantly, Justinian virtues. The King of all Justinian Champions rules the Exaltarchy under Justinian’s direct influence, and is called the Exaltarch. The title of Exaltarch comes with many boons, such as that of Divine Mandate under Justinian, making his word and law, a direct extension of the Justinian. They also experience greater supernatural protection, beyond being simple heroes, the Exaltarch also has Divine Intervention, which allows Justinian to directly intervene in matters which involve the Exaltarch’s direct safety. The Exaltarchy is also a nation of countless heroic tales and stories, the Exaltarchy were the first to come into war during the initial Crusade of Justinian, and has since upheld the heroic lineage of their forefathers 300 years ago. The nation is ruled, therefore, by ancient heroic bloodlines, and seldom are there people of note whom do not bear the title of Champion of Justinian.
- The Justinian Giant - The Nation of Archonnen is objectively the largest nation in the Materium, and has the largest population in all the world. To accompany this, the nation itself is effectively centralized, with a highly capable industry, and its people are accepting of the Exalted State. The economy is thriving, and the nation has been in a golden age for 150 years. It is a very stable nation, a nation with complete faith in its Exaltarch.
- The Infinite Army - The Exaltarchy of Archonnen is an inexplicably vast nation, not only of size, but of population. Due to its economic and sociopolitical stability, the Exaltarch, the nation’s ruler, is able to summon forth a practically endless host of warriors. However, the Infinite Army is slow to mobilize, and requires immense preparation before the titan can lay waste to its enemies.
- You are my Fellow Man - Racism and cultural distance is naught in the nation of the Exaltarchy, for it is rich in understanding and benevolence. Instead, assimilation and understanding of other people under the Justinian banner is welcomed and their unique traits are highly desired. Ill thoughts are instead directed towards those whom do not share these traditional justinian ideals. It is also home to some of the most devout, traditionalist Justinians on the world-continent of the Materium, as such it is harsh to alien influence, but still follows the rules of justice and benevolence. Racism is a bygone topic amongst metropolitan Archonnen, instead harm comes to those whom lack the same religious beliefs as the majority.
- Epiphany of the Perfect World - Much like many other Justinian nations, the Exaltarchy of Archonnen wildly utilizes the practice of the Epiphany of the Perfect World to keep its subjects loyal, devout, and hopeful of a united, peaceful future where lands once divided are reunited, and the drums of war turn into the hymns of peace. Although the negative of this process leads to naturally occuring "Great People (super geniuses)" lacking the freedom to fully exercise the full potential of their abilities to acquire the best possible result. This means that most roles in the government, and the system in general, is filled by individuals who are largely limited in their freedom and movement. This means that instead of lateral thinking, reliability and loyalty is instead emphasized.
- World Cities - The nation of Archonnen is vast, but its population far more excessive. Its people are ambitious architects and constructors of marvels of which cannot be compared. It includes cities of which can be described as worlds in and of themselves.
- Armoury of the Gods - The capital city, Exalossa, is home to countless wonders worthy of world recognition, one of which is the Golden Armoury. The Golden Armoury consists of the collected wealth, legend, and recognition of endless heroes in the form of their armour, weapons, and trinkets. It is estimated that tens of thousands of legendary relics can be found within its walls, and some of the strongest weapons on the materium are kept within its inner sanctum, away from dangerous influences. The armoury’s contents are beyond invaluable.
- Proof of Loyalty - Due to the Exaltarchy's somewhat paranoid and control-freaky government, the inhabitants of Archonnen require proofs of citizenry. These proofs are not given handily to anyone, and can be removed at a moments notice by any state official. To gain a proof of citizenship, one must have resided within the Frontier-region of Pinnopol for an approximate 25 years, under strict surveilance. Once this has been completed, one may finally pass beyond the harbours of any city, or cross the menacing Millennium Walls that protect the Justinian Heartlands.
- Distant Allies - The Exaltarchy of Archonnen is a distant political entity to its Justinian allies, unwilling to send military aide in form of military personnel for undisclosed reasons. As such, it is a very enigmatic entity to other Justinian Sovereigns, gaining them great distaste from most Justinian Rulers. Although, in regards to Sacrosanctia, the Exaltarchy and the Theobureacracy of Sacrosanctia share great diplomatic relations, arguably the best in all of Justiniandom.
- Resolute Justinians - Traditionalist Justinians to the extreme, the Exaltarchy of Archonnen is highly unwilling to deal with foreign religions, and the followers that they enthrall. Whilst few exceptions have been made, the Exaltarchy works endlessly to instill disdain and intolerance of other religions, leading to even their Ambassadors to often adopt a "burn the alien" policy when dealing with other allied nations.
- Thrones of Gold - The Exaltarchy of Archonnen appears impossibly arrogant to its allies, often demanding much of them in return of very little. Whilst the Exaltarch's influence and directive is of undeniable religious importance, as he is effectively the Right Hand of the Justinian, he still seldom gives befitting boons in return of other Justinian nations' services. Therefore, dealing with Archonnen politically is a very arduous task indeed.
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Isotropis, a sterotypical Archonite metropolis
MEGALOPOLISES (Red)
- Grand Capitolopolis of Exalossa (Capital of the Exaltarchy of Archonnen).
- Regional Capitolopolis of Petrix (Capital of the Archmagnacy of Pinnopol).
- Regional Capitolopolis of Pridos (Capital of the Archmagnacy of Leopol).
- Regional Capitolopolis of Justipolix (Capital of the Archmagnacy of Apollis).
- Regional Capitolopolis of Molis (Capital of the Archmagnacy of Exalos).
- Regional Capitolopolis of Oriossa (Capital of the Archmagnacy of Sepola).
- Megalopolis of Kropolix (Capital of the Magnacy of Constantio, Apollis).
- Megalopolis of Leopolos (Capital of the Magnacy of Macedos, Leopol).
- Megalopolis of Amonos (Capital of the Magnacy of Amo, Apollis).
One of several Bastion-Settlements across the entirety of the Millennium Walls.
Points of Interest
- Grand Protectorate of Millennos, the Millennium Walls (Border between Pinnopol and Sepola).
- The Aemoros Border-Mountains (Entirety of Archonnen's norther border).
- The Aemoros Wildwoods (Accompanies the Aemoros Mountains).
- The Great-Mountains of Aporion (Central Archonnen).
- The Daggersand Dune Sea (Central Archonnen).
- The Empyrean Palace (Great Palace of the Exaltarch, Central Exalossa).
- The Immortal Memorium (Surrounds the entirety of Exalossa, millions of statues raised in remembrace of those who fell for the Reconvergence).
- The Monuments of Remembrance (Scattered around the many thousands of cities throughout Archonnen, often manifested as gigantic statues that symbolize sacrifice and resistance).
- The Great-Bridges of Petrix (Petrix; Harbour, commerce, and military districts).
- The Enigmatic Stone (The apex of the Empyrean Spire, Empyrean Palace, Central Exalossa).
- The Golden Armoury (Foot of the Empyrean Palace, Central Exalossa).
RACIAL INFORMATION
-Majority race: There is no direct majority, although humans number in a very sizable racial minority, coming in at a drastic 42% of the population. Humans often dominate the administrative sector, as well as the military, although Auxilliary units from other racial fields are utilized to great effect due to their special characteristics. Whilst they are indirectly forced into service, they are given great boons by the state upon their military resignation.
-Minority race(s): Archonnen is an almost incomprehensibly vast nation with a very sizable populace within its borders, as such almost all of the world's civilized species can be found within it in at least some form or other. A very important distinction to be made, however, is that whether they can be found within the Frontier-region of Pinnopol, or the Archonnen Heartlands are of different importance. Pinnopol serves as some sort of garbage dump for the nation's undesirables, although it does maintain a ready military presence with exemplary auxilliaries levied from these very undesirables.
-Race Description(s): Humans, elves, dwarves, kobolds, centaurs, giants, and so much more, all of it can be found within its expansive borders. If there's a civilized race in this story, chances are high it has found its way into Archonnen in one way or another.
RELIGIOUS INFORMATION
An extermination operation of a local, cowering Red Pantheonist enclave.
-State Religion: Canonical Justinianism
-Patron Deity: The Justinian
-Religion Demographics: The Exaltarchy and Sacrosanctia collaborates on many-a religious operations, as such the demographics found within Archonnen are an overwhelming majority Justinians, with an unaccounted for, but incredibly small minority Red Pantheonists. These Red Pantheonists are actively genocided, and sacrificed for the greater purpose of the Recovergence of both the Materia and the Celestial Realm. Although, there're some extreme and less extreme cults and sects found within Archonnen, there is only one socially acceptable interpretation is that of the literal interpretation of what is written in the Canonica.
-Holy Relics in Possession: The lands of Archonnen are home to potentially the largest collection of Holy Relics in the world, almost all of which are collected within the Golden Armoury of Exalossa. Whilst entry into the Golden Armoury is almost completely restricted, only a select amount of individuals are granted passage from the Exaltarch himself into the massive vaults of the Golden Armoury, and even then there're some weapons and some areas of which are not granted passage to even the Exaltarch without the explicit say-so of the Justinian themselves.
These are those weapons, and they are ranked from strongest to weakest:
+ Materium - The Elder-Sibling of the two weapons, Materium is the greatest Justinian artifact ever granted to mortal hands. Made specifically for Empyraeos Gloria, the first Exaltarch of Archonnen, and the founder of the superstate, the sword "Materium" was crafted not on earth, but in the celestial realm. Through the use of impossibly vast amounts of magic, it and its sibling-blade, the Aemoron, were transported between realities, and as such wield the unfiltered powers of the Celestial Realm themselves; commonly referred to as the Sons of the Epilogean Blade. It was locked away into the then newly-created Golden Armoury, of which it has remained uninterrupted for the last 270 years.
+ Aemaron - Much like Materium, Aemoron seethes of alien powers and unfiltered power. It carries, much like the Materium, a somewhat incomprehensible silhouette too vast a creation for normal mortals to comprehend. Its existence can only be percieved by those powerful enough in the powers of magic, and then it is seen as a flaming manifestation of a most unusual blade.
+ Aegul the Limitless, Sword of Transcendance - Personal Sword of Apexus the Transcending, and it was potentially the strongest weapon ever wielded by a Justinian aspect in the fields of combat pre-Justinian. Apexus was a mighty King who ruled a united nation and stood against the tests of time, his elven prowess granting him great wisdom, but his odd giant-blood giving him unrivaled power. The odd mix, and by all concievable reason impossible, granted him near god-like power in the eyes of mortal subjects. He was a just king, albeit somewhat brutal, but he met a horrific end at the hands of the Old Pantheon, for they saw his existence as an affront to their power. Apexus had hired the best smith in the world to forge him a weapon, and this Smith, Liron, forged an artifact of incomprehensible power, allowing even Apexus to transcend even mortal power. The Gods were affronted by this, and hastily disposed of the great ruler. The Sword was reclaimed, as insanely as it sounds, from the middle of an open field north of Archonnen, beyond the border-mountains.
+ The Destroyer, Lance of the Unknown, Mornom - A largely unknown weapon reclaimed from an otherwise unimportant ruined Ashenlur temple. Scholars can only grasp at straws as to its origins, but it appears to have been the reason for the colossal temple's demise, and is therefore assumed Justinian, or at least an opponent to the Old Pantheon and its injustices. Opinions are divided as to which of the two it is, but its power is guaranteed, and must therefore be isolated from the rest of the world.
+ Barafragas the Forgotten, Blade of the Conqueror - Personal weapon of Wolfraum the Conqueror, the Dragon Eater, and sometimes even the Dragon King. Wolfraum ruled the Aemos Imperios for a hundred years, and upon his death at the injust hands of jealous Gods, the unrivaled megasovereignty was shattered into thousands of weak petty kingdoms. The blade of Barafragas, one of which had slain hundreds of thousands, weak and strong, is one of the most blood-stained blades in Justinian history, and is adequately powerful. The bane of all dragon-kin, east to west. It laid undisturbed for a thousand years before it was dug up from the ancestral home of Wolfraum, where Exalossa is now located, and in the deepest Sanctum of the Golden Armoury.
+ Aeon the Unbroken, Sword of the Ages - Another unknown blade of unknown history, although with very apparent power. Unlike the Materium and Aemaron it is unable to dominate the material world, and bend it to its whims, but its blade is one of inconcievable age, and still retains a perfect edge, fabled to be able to cut through every single material object.
+ The Lance of Justice, Glory of the West - Weapon of choice of the Aspect of the Beginning, the First. It carried onwards the spirit laid out initially by Wolfraum, but brought it one step further. Whilst The First's nation was nowhere near as vast, he was a much greater person than any other Justinian Aspect before him. The Lance of Justice exemplifies this trait, and is said to be able to craft empires out of nothing and shatter even the greatest bastions with but a wave. It was reclaimed by Justinian themselves during their first appearance upon the world, and then granted to the Gloria family as a family heirloom. It was lost at the hands of Morus Gloria, the Unfortunate Exaltarch, during the Devastation about one-and-a-half centuries in the past. It was recovered at great cost, and then brought back into the vast vaults, never to be glanced again.
+ Haros, the Blade of an Empire - Another weapon of the First's. Haros was the First's chosen dismounted combat weapon, and carries with it the same qualities of the Lance, although its spiritual significance is diminished, due to the iconic nature of the Western Lance. It never left the Golden Armoury since its reclamation during Justinian's first appearance.
+ Aelo the Tidecaller - An unknown weapon of great power, albeit highly niche. Aelo the Tidecaller was brought out from the seas, a place of which its power is great. Capable of bending the sea to its will, the wielder of the Tidecaller may even dominate the Southern Sea and jetisson its many monstrosities into the air should given the authority.
+ Oron, Bow of the Forgotten - A blade said to shoot through the very concept of space and time. The arrow of Oron are known as Blackfyre arrows, a magic enchantment granted to it by the bow itself, allowing the arrow teleportation-esque qualities, allowing incredibly long-range sniping abilities. the Blackfyre arrows themselves are also incendiary, and the fire is hard to suppress.
+ The Monolithic Sword of Ashora - It has always been there, it will always be there. It lied at the feet of Barafragas during the initial excavation of the Golden Armoury's lowest sanctum, its true power has never been truly revealed. It emits a largely unknown and bewildering magical radiance.
+ The Spear of Exodus, Moras - The Spear of Exodus is capable of unleashing great plagues and great evils upon the world. Created by an unknown, but obviously evil existence, the Plague-Spear of Moras is an incredibly potent evil. Whilst many plagues and diseases within this world can be cured by magic, the contagions of Moras are greater than any common disease or plague, engineered or otherwise. It's initial owner, Obyion, a Great Chief of Myion, a long-dead nation which once occupied some of the Archonnen region, was killed by the Aspects and Justinian, and his feared weapon was stored forever onwards within the Golden Armoury.
+ Aemaron - Much like Materium, Aemoron seethes of alien powers and unfiltered power. It carries, much like the Materium, a somewhat incomprehensible silhouette too vast a creation for normal mortals to comprehend. Its existence can only be percieved by those powerful enough in the powers of magic, and then it is seen as a flaming manifestation of a most unusual blade.
+ Aegul the Limitless, Sword of Transcendance - Personal Sword of Apexus the Transcending, and it was potentially the strongest weapon ever wielded by a Justinian aspect in the fields of combat pre-Justinian. Apexus was a mighty King who ruled a united nation and stood against the tests of time, his elven prowess granting him great wisdom, but his odd giant-blood giving him unrivaled power. The odd mix, and by all concievable reason impossible, granted him near god-like power in the eyes of mortal subjects. He was a just king, albeit somewhat brutal, but he met a horrific end at the hands of the Old Pantheon, for they saw his existence as an affront to their power. Apexus had hired the best smith in the world to forge him a weapon, and this Smith, Liron, forged an artifact of incomprehensible power, allowing even Apexus to transcend even mortal power. The Gods were affronted by this, and hastily disposed of the great ruler. The Sword was reclaimed, as insanely as it sounds, from the middle of an open field north of Archonnen, beyond the border-mountains.
+ The Destroyer, Lance of the Unknown, Mornom - A largely unknown weapon reclaimed from an otherwise unimportant ruined Ashenlur temple. Scholars can only grasp at straws as to its origins, but it appears to have been the reason for the colossal temple's demise, and is therefore assumed Justinian, or at least an opponent to the Old Pantheon and its injustices. Opinions are divided as to which of the two it is, but its power is guaranteed, and must therefore be isolated from the rest of the world.
+ Barafragas the Forgotten, Blade of the Conqueror - Personal weapon of Wolfraum the Conqueror, the Dragon Eater, and sometimes even the Dragon King. Wolfraum ruled the Aemos Imperios for a hundred years, and upon his death at the injust hands of jealous Gods, the unrivaled megasovereignty was shattered into thousands of weak petty kingdoms. The blade of Barafragas, one of which had slain hundreds of thousands, weak and strong, is one of the most blood-stained blades in Justinian history, and is adequately powerful. The bane of all dragon-kin, east to west. It laid undisturbed for a thousand years before it was dug up from the ancestral home of Wolfraum, where Exalossa is now located, and in the deepest Sanctum of the Golden Armoury.
+ Aeon the Unbroken, Sword of the Ages - Another unknown blade of unknown history, although with very apparent power. Unlike the Materium and Aemaron it is unable to dominate the material world, and bend it to its whims, but its blade is one of inconcievable age, and still retains a perfect edge, fabled to be able to cut through every single material object.
+ The Lance of Justice, Glory of the West - Weapon of choice of the Aspect of the Beginning, the First. It carried onwards the spirit laid out initially by Wolfraum, but brought it one step further. Whilst The First's nation was nowhere near as vast, he was a much greater person than any other Justinian Aspect before him. The Lance of Justice exemplifies this trait, and is said to be able to craft empires out of nothing and shatter even the greatest bastions with but a wave. It was reclaimed by Justinian themselves during their first appearance upon the world, and then granted to the Gloria family as a family heirloom. It was lost at the hands of Morus Gloria, the Unfortunate Exaltarch, during the Devastation about one-and-a-half centuries in the past. It was recovered at great cost, and then brought back into the vast vaults, never to be glanced again.
+ Haros, the Blade of an Empire - Another weapon of the First's. Haros was the First's chosen dismounted combat weapon, and carries with it the same qualities of the Lance, although its spiritual significance is diminished, due to the iconic nature of the Western Lance. It never left the Golden Armoury since its reclamation during Justinian's first appearance.
+ Aelo the Tidecaller - An unknown weapon of great power, albeit highly niche. Aelo the Tidecaller was brought out from the seas, a place of which its power is great. Capable of bending the sea to its will, the wielder of the Tidecaller may even dominate the Southern Sea and jetisson its many monstrosities into the air should given the authority.
+ Oron, Bow of the Forgotten - A blade said to shoot through the very concept of space and time. The arrow of Oron are known as Blackfyre arrows, a magic enchantment granted to it by the bow itself, allowing the arrow teleportation-esque qualities, allowing incredibly long-range sniping abilities. the Blackfyre arrows themselves are also incendiary, and the fire is hard to suppress.
+ The Monolithic Sword of Ashora - It has always been there, it will always be there. It lied at the feet of Barafragas during the initial excavation of the Golden Armoury's lowest sanctum, its true power has never been truly revealed. It emits a largely unknown and bewildering magical radiance.
+ The Spear of Exodus, Moras - The Spear of Exodus is capable of unleashing great plagues and great evils upon the world. Created by an unknown, but obviously evil existence, the Plague-Spear of Moras is an incredibly potent evil. Whilst many plagues and diseases within this world can be cured by magic, the contagions of Moras are greater than any common disease or plague, engineered or otherwise. It's initial owner, Obyion, a Great Chief of Myion, a long-dead nation which once occupied some of the Archonnen region, was killed by the Aspects and Justinian, and his feared weapon was stored forever onwards within the Golden Armoury.
-Holy Sites under Control: There are no Holy Cities in Archonnen, but there are numerous important religious locations; such as Archonnen's Golden Armoury. Foremost amongst them is the entirety of the Empyrean Palace; the personal residence of the Exaltarch, his personal guard, the upper-echelon of the Exalted State, and their personal guard. Center piece in a great board which spans the entirety of Archonnen, the Empyrean Palace consists of a superstructure which towers into the heavens, and sprawls deep into the earth. The Empyrean Spire breaches into the heavens, and at its Apex, lies the chambers of not only the Exaltarch and his Empyrean Court, but also the Enigmatic Stone. Borrowing into the depths of Exalossa, the legendary Golden Armoury lies, together with its tenants, whom may never leave its vaults, and protects the relics. The Empyrean Citadel occupies the surface space of the Empyrean Palace, and is the home for the administrative center of the Archonite War Machine and the Exalted State's High Command.
-Notable Magical Institutions: Archonnen lacks individual centers of scholarly knowledge, and instead relies on Sacrosanctian colleges of magic and knowledge for training most of its administration. That beign said, the nation is not without centers of learning, they're simply few and hard to enter. The Exalted state funds and owns academies of learning in all of the great cities and is the foremost center of knowledge for several fields of study.
-Religious Interpretations/Culture/Structure: Archonnen is home to too many cultures to name, and too many interpretations to even comprehend. Whilst all things are maintained and cooperative by designs established early on in Archonnens infancy, Archonnen has learned to develope a culture surrounded on lack of any definitive, particular culture. City-life in Archonnen is filled with all kinds of oddities, and exotic dishes, where as instead the farmlands develope isolated cultures with their own practice and festivals.
More often than not, however, life in Archonnen centers around the vast cities, with gigantic markets and massive forums for people to spend their times outside as opposed to nothing. Although Archonnen society is a highly hierachical one, with each individual defined by their particular duty, and their purpose, and their work. Everyone is given a purpose, everyone is given a job, and they are supposed to finish said task before their life expires. It is the necessity of Justinian success, and it is the Archonite Dream to work or take part in something that will later become groundbreaking or revolutionary.
This sense of "Worker's Duty" is further emphasized with massive, and numerous monuments that glorify duty and sacrifice for the sake of accomplishment and success. The Grand Capitolopolis of Exalossa is surrounded by one such gigantic monument; a monument consisting of hundreds of thousands of marble statues in the shape of nameless soldiers, all of which gave their lives for the sake of Justinian success. Be it the ones that fell during the Initial Crusade, or the ones whom fell during the Devastation, they are all immortalize here, so that they can stand guard whilst the next generation brings success.
As aforementioned, Archonite society is highly hierarchical, and by extension orderly. The regimes of each individual is strictly controlled and enforced, but made in such a way as to imply a fake sense of control. This is to keep the citizens happy, but also to ensure continued efficiency in the Archonite Industrial, Administrative, Military, and Commercial machine. The State as such has massive insight into the lives of each individual, and monitors them closely to ensure no criminal activity is undertaken.
As such, crime in Archonnen is surprisingly rare, and executions, otherwise called as "Judgements" are massive occations of enjoyment for the common folk, amassing around the Empyrean Spire's Obsidian Obelisk (where criminals are crucified and made to atone for their crimes).
The people of Archonnen, in its sprawling cities, are as such massively controlled, mind controlled even, and the farmers and village-livers are simply too ignorant to know what the Exalted State is doing. As such, the people of Archonnen honour fallen heroes, and pride themsleves in their government. They are incredibly loyal to the state, but also to Justinianism itself, due to Sacrosanctian administrative and theocratic influence.
Archonnen and the Theobureacracy of Sacrosanctia are gigantic allies, and cooperate in almost every sphere of administration, education, and commerce. Miltiary being the only thing that Archonnen itself exclusively operates, since it acts as the effective army of Sacrosanctia, with the Exaltarch being the Supreme Commander of the Mortal-led Justinian Coalition forces.
As Archonnen is a powerful Justinian nation, in close proximity with Sacrosanctia, and with great cooperation with the fatherland of Justiniandom, it is a predominantly Canonical Justinian society. As canonicals, it follows these tenants:
1: Must acknowledge Justinian as the true and only god of the universe besides the deceased Demiurge, the evil creator god of the primordial era - the great antithesis and root of all evil.
2: Must acknowledge and accept the Great Reconvergence as desirable, necessary and inevitable.
3: All celestial entities that are not Justinian (demiurgic entities) must be destroyed, following them is treason.
4: The Justinians word and mandate is absolute.
5: Accepts and takes part in self-sacrifice and the consensual curse
6: Acknowledges and accepts the existence and role of the Oratorium, allowing them the right to carry out their duties and operate within your borders.
7: Accepts and takes part in the Epiphany of the Perfect World.
8: Acknowledges and takes part in fighting in the Sacrilege War. There can be no peace until the Great Reconvergence is completed, as such this will be our final war.
9: Acknowledges Justinians divine intervention and miracles, as well as the magic delegated to the mortals.
10: Acknowledges Asceticism and the inherent impurity of the physical world and as such officially rejects materialism.
MILITARY INFORMATION
150 years ago, the warriors of Archonnen marched beyond the Heartlands to topple the Great Taunt; the home of the Turqoise Deciever. Since their first defeat in the devastation, they have secluded themselves to an enigmatic task, never having marched beyond Archonnen for the last 150 years.
Total Military Size: Circa 1,000,000 (give or take a couple thousand) active soldiers are maintained and supplied by the Exaltarchy of Archonnen during this state of peace.
Listed Heroes: Archonnen is a nation whose power and authority stems from its leadership; an upper-echelon of Champions whose heraldry stems all the way back to the age of the Apostles, and in the case of the Great Houses, have direct connection with the Apostles of Justinian that marched forth from Sacrosanctium 300 years ago. The Great Houses are the following; Gloria, Orass, Immortis, Sepolon, Pax, Arboria, Apollis, Eternus, and Immortasus. There are numerous other dominating bloodlines within the Bureacracy of Archonnen, but there're also skillful "unaffiliated" administrators. What is to be most commonly known, however, is that the Champions of Archonnen are LEADERS as opposed to WARRIORS. This leads to most of their time being spent administrating the gigantic realms of Archonnen, although their skills on the battlefield are expected to remain capable, they're mostly employed by the Exaltarch and Justinian as superb military commanders.
- Exaltarch of Archonnen, Armarossa Gloria.
- Archmagnate of Pinnopol, Horus Orass.
- Magnate of Pinnopol, Oramor Immortis.
- Magnate of Basilis, Luxus Gloria.
- Magnate of Herapolis, Solus Sepolon.
- Magnate of Victorix, Glorion In Victorix.
- Magnate of Prodros, Vigilos Gloria.
- Archmagnate of Sepola, Justice Pax.
- Magnate of Sepola, Lorido Immortis.
- Magnate of Solom, Solomanus Orass.
- Magnate of Floris, Glorianus Sepolon.
- Magnate of Solimo, Armaron Pax.
- Magnate of Gloria, Empyraeos II Gloria.
- Magnate of Aris, Praelis Aris.
- Archmagnate of Apollis, Luxiticanus Arboria.
- Magnate of Apollis, Pantokratos Apollis.
- Magnate of Amos, Tribentaros Monoluxus.
- Magnate of Nerona, Paxos Rex.
- Magnate of Constatio, Prevosus Eternus.
- Archmagnate of Exalos, Rex Eternus.
- Magnate of Exalos, Justinianus Gloria.
- Magnate of Palamis, Justrianus Monoluxus.
- Magnate of Akropos, Arborianos Arboria.
- Archmagnate of Leopol, Empyraeos Immortasus.
- Magnate of Leopol, Empyraeos Monoluxus.
Military Doctrine: The Empyrean Court consists of 512 individuals, half of which are Grand Primuses. These Grand Primuses were once regular Primuses, leading legions and training their forces. They were renowned for their ability and granted the Gift of Knowledge. They were promoted into the highest echelon of the Infinite Army and its machine; the Court of the Exaltarch, but more specifically, the War Council.
The Exaltarch, together with his 256 Grand Primuses lead their wars from within the War Council, the inner-sanctum of the Empyrean Court, and craft strategies and tactics around the war table. Regular Primuses do not know strategy, they known only how to lead men, so they employ standardized strategic templates, or in aemerine, Legalimatum Militarismos Templatos.
However, as a Grand Primus, you are given the ability to craft these strategic and tactical templates under majority vote, and the will of the Exaltarch. This ensures that not any template can enter the Iron Biblicon, the book where all the templates are collected, and the book of which all Primuses must know by heart.
Military Units: The Archonite Warmachine is one which baffles the world throughout all of Materia; no nation across the lands does not know of the Exaltarchy, but even less, of the Infinite Army. Originally created by the remnants of the aftermath of the Great Battle of Tramontan, Empyraeos gathered the shattered Justinian Forces and brought them back to the Temporary Region of Archonnen which would later come to be known as the Exaltarchy of Archonnen.
He, with the aide of his fellow Apostles, attempted their utmost to place the first stones for the foundations of the Exaltarchy. One such stone, one such stepping stone, would come to be known as the Infinite Army. Initially a highly modest, but quite numerous collective of anything from woman, man, and beast, it quickly expanded and became the dominating peacekeeping force in the vast land.
Whilst its initial purpose was of pacification, it quickly became known for its prowess in the fields of battle, as it fought against resisting Red Pantheonist enclaves which, by this point, were not as weak as they are in the modern day. They maintained the law, and secured the land, so that the industry, infrastructure, and urbanization of Archonnen could take shape. It would take many decades before the powers of Archonnen became apparent to anyone, but the embers first laid forth by Empyraeos would quickly burst into flame during the Great Birth, 139AWH. The Great Birth was not only the moment that the Birth of the Exaltarchy as a superpower first became a reality, but it was also the moment where the industry, infrastructure, urbanization, and modernization was completed.
But most importantly, it was also the moment of the first renovation of the Infinite Army. It took a decade for the completion of the first renovation, and it would come to be battle tested shortly after in Tramontan, as would only be fitting. The warriors of Archonnen proved powerful and capable, but ultimately only ash made its way home from the battlefield; the devastation instead burning itself into the minds of any Archonite.
Now in the modern day, after the completion of numerous other renovations, the power of Archonnen's Infinite Army is stronger than ever before. And now more than ever, it is ever more apparent.
Infinite Army Retinues:
"If the Lord of the Empyrean Spire, if the Only True God, has need of our ability; our zeal; our swords, then who are we to deny them? We have trained for decades, honed our prowess for the Reconvergence; we will march when the time comes. They will have our spears."
The Infinite Army employs a million men, and most of which are variants of infantryman. The basic soldier of the Archonite warmachine, but by no means basic in actuality. Fully equipped in rune-plate forged from the many foundries of Archonnen's cities, and armed with sword and Sancthiyin Halberds of magnificent quality, the Infantryman is ready for war in all manners except in truth, for even as they have prepared for decades, no one truly knows when the Exaltarchy will march onwards once more.
Their armour is potent enough to deflect and resist any conventional form of kinetic piercing damage, leading them to not use the shield, instead favouring the heavy, magically-reinforced armour of the rune-plate. This also allows them to focus on the offense, and whilst their armour is highly resistant, the Archonite battle-stratagem focuses heavily on a hybridized tactic of offensive defense. This means that the infantrymen specialize in ripostes and various deflective techniques.
The rune-plate allows some momentary anti-magical defense, but it is unable to handle repetitive magical bombardments. For that they seek the aid of either Guardians or their Primuses; or in the best-case scenario, the Warmagos.
With a strict hierarchy dominating how Archonnen operates in general, the Infantrymen are left with little to do but obey commands (something of which they do with great zeal). The ideal soldier is what they have been shaped into after centuries of trial and error.
Forced to partake in some of the most rigorous training regimes in all of Materia, the infantryman is trained for decades until their prowess cannot progress further and they are put into a Tribulum (essentially a Roman Century). Twelve Tribulari make up one Nihilum; essentially a Cohort. Each Nihilum is organized by an elite group of soldiers known as the Archonite Guardians, individuals of which make up one Tribulum. Twelve Nihilum make an Archonite legion, one of which is led by a Primus of varying prestige.
The Infantrymen are therefore essentially the necessary foundations on which the bulk of the warmachine shines. The cogs of the great machination of the End.
"To become new, to innovate, such is a decision. It is not a process, like some may say, but it is a lifestyle. We, as the Lance of the West, the Neo-Justinian Warmachine made manifest, employ the might of innovation. We are Justice made with steel and gunpowder."
Technically of the same rank and authority as Archonite Infatrymen, the Archonite Lancers are of a wholly different breed of warrior entirely; namely the modern kind. They employ the tools of war known across the realms of Materia as the Sancthiyin Cannonlance and its function is quite potent.
Equipped with specialized armour, but mirroring the same quality of the Archonite Infatrymen, the only real big difference is their weapon. A work of marvel which combines the defensive abilities of a spear, and harnesses the raw offensive power of a gunpowder weapon, the Sancthiyin Cannonlance is a magically enhanced weapon of high quality, capable of supplying enemy battle formations with gunpowder from afar, and holding down flanks from cavalry with the multi-tool qualities of their weapons.
To become an Archonite Lancer requires great physical training, for the power of the Sancthiyin Cannonlance, or the Western Lance as they are often referred to as, is highly demanding. After a battle, Lancers are the second priority after wounded warriors, when it comes to recoverative magic.
"We know our duty; to protect the sanctity of Justice. We know our purpose; to fight the evils which taint the universe. We will spread our wings, we will bring truth, and we will burn the taint of evil. We will protect the world, be the world willing or not. We will prevail, the Empyrean Dream is within reach."
The second in the Hierarchy of the Archonite Legions, and the next logical progression from either a Lancer or an Infantryman, is the Guardian. A Guardian is essentially a veteran warrior whom has experienced the nature of the Archonite Legion, or the military in general, for several decades. Whilst in truth no different than other infantrymen, their skills and equippment is where they excell; after 3, or so, decades, the Exalted State demands of its soldiers that, in order to stay within the Infinite Army and reap the benefits, one has to learn the ways of magic, administration, and further expand on their combat prowess.
As such, the Archonite Guardians are individuals whom serve the Primus' Legionary War Council, know the ways of battle-magic and efficienct combat rituals, and have an additional decade on their neck, making them quite potent in battle. Whilst the hierarchy does not allow them to question the strategies of the Empyrean Council or the tactics of the Primus, they have the ability to have their voices heard, albeit barely, but are forced to fight until the death like any other warrior of Archonnen should need be.
"To conquer evil is no simple task; it requires prowess otherwise thought unobtainable. We are the End of Evil; we are the lance of Justice. We are the power of the West incarnate."
Often times Elves of military background, but not exclusively, the Archonite Primus is the leading field-commander of an Archonite Legion unless other, greater forces intervene (such as Counts, Dukes, Magnates, Archmagnates, or the Exaltarch). More often than not skilled in centuries of war, the Archonite Primus are the apex of military field-command.
Elevated from the foremost ranks of the greatest Guardians available personally by the Exaltarch, the Primus employs the knowledge of Guardians together with the zealous leadership which can only be found within the Brotherhood of the Infinite Army's upper-echelon. Whilst not as tactically sound as one would suspect, the Primus is forced to employ the countless pre-built and pre-constructed strategic and tactical templates designed within the Empyrean Council, by the hands of the Exaltarch and his court of Grand Primuses.
As such even a Primus is merely another piece of which the Exaltarchy uses to further its dominance; never to act independently, and never to leave the supervision of the Superstate, such is the fate of all citizens of Archonnen. But even still, the Primus lacks the independence, and is far too loyal, to question the Exalted State under normal circumstance, and therefore instead directs orders to their legion with fanatial efficiency.
"There are those fools who deny themselves the only true pleasure; the Empyrean Joy. They do not seek the end of the perverse, distorted, tainted world of which we all reside. In the end we are all unwilling residents here, it is merely a matter of understanding the truth. We are the bearers of truth, and we will bring the light of reason to those whom desire to veil themselves in lies."
Beyond the simple hierarchy of the regular Archonite military system, the Empyrean Saints are a breed of both elite and unique soldier. Selected amongst the greatest of Archonnen's warriors, the Empyrean Saint is a magically empowered, transcending warrior capable of vicious, savage, and most holy vegeance.
Empowered personally by the will of Justice, the Justinian themselves, the Empyrean Saints spread the truth across the battlefield. Their faith is second only to their military prowess, and all those whom refuse to bend to the truth will be disposed swiftly with the Empyrean Saint's physical and arcane prowess.
The Empyrean Saint is seen as the strongest infantry that Archonnen can muster, and epitomizes Archonnen's offensive ideals. Seldom on the defense, always on the attack, each Saint use their unique physique and empowered attributes to become one-man-armies on the battlefield.
Due to the gruesome transformation process, and the selection criteria in general, the ranks of the Ascended, the Empyrean Saints, otherwise known as Saints, is gruesomely slim. A total size of 1000 serving at any given time, the Ascended are forced to become single-man-armies, lacking any sort of unit cohesion or teamwork, for they lack the numbers.
Therefore each Saint takes care of themselves, and if one may fall, then cohesion is not broken, for each Saint is an army upon themselves.
"We are the necessary darkness; the end and the beginning. We are the conduit, of which darkness manifests so that light may overpower. We devour armies, we lay waste to legions. We are War, we are the conquest. We bring the dance of creation and destruction."
The Exalted Warmagosi of the Empyrean Court, the personal archmages of the Exaltarch, are the single best mages in the entirety of Archonnen, bar perhaps the Exaltarch himself. Unlike the Archmages of other nations, such as Sacrosanctia, the Warmagosi of Archonnen wield exclusively the arcane arts of war, destruction, and ruin. They lack in all knowledge pertaining to creation, restoration, and support, and instead are masters and disciples of ancient archmages whom know only the arts of death.
Often times elves, but also other long-lived races, the Exalted Warmagosi are selected personally by the Exaltarch, with insight from the Justinian themselves. Sometimes even originating from beyond the Exaltarchy's borders, the Exaltarch goes to extensive lenghts to acquire potential disciples for the secret magics kept within the vaults and floors of the Empyrean Spire.
Prone ot secrecy, there is little to be known about this elusive court of royal archmages beyond their renowned prowess with battle magic and combat styles, with many world-renowned hand-to-hand martial arts finding their origins within the minds of a Warmagos. What little is known is told to higher-officials from the Exaltarch personally.
The Warmagosi within the Institute train rigorously, against eachother, in martial-arts deathmatches within internal arenas inside the Empyrean Palace's spire, with the hierarchy based extensively of right of arms and kratocratic principles. Overseen by the Exaltarch's direct vision, the actions and daily schedule off these battlemages can only be described as insane, with massive subterranean caverns hollowed out and reinforced beneath the city of Exalossa to isolate any potential damage caused by the Warmagosi and their unrestrained duels.
"To conquer is a simple task, but to protect? To protect the future of worlds; the future of millions? To protect an idea, even. To protect is the most noble of duties, and such is ours. We pledged our alliegance to the End, and for that purpose we have trained every morning light, every starry sky, towards ensuring the defense of the End."
The Empyrean Guard, mightiest warriors of their kind, are the personal bodyguards of the Exaltarch and their Empyrean Court. Employed first by the First Exaltarch of Archonnen, Empyraeos Gloria, to protect him and aid in his pacification of the Archonnen Region before the birth of the Exaltarchy, the Giants of Mogorokor, in the vast Border-Mountains have since been employed to act as the personal protectors of the Exaltarch.
Due to the long life-span of the Mogorokor Giants, they have stood their vigil, and served their duty, to the First Exaltarch and his descendents, for almost 300 years. Their skills and prowess has only increased as they've grown, and now paired with the immense protection granted to them by their hell-forged Rune-Plated armour, they have turned into the apex of military power.
8 meters tall, an estimated one-tonne weight, paired up with their 100-kilogram armour, 2,7 meter greatsword, and their immense tower-shield, the Empyrean Guardsman is turned into an exceptionally powerful warrior, capable of decimating numerous warriors with merely a swing of their massive blade.
Usually located exclusively in the presence of the Exaltarch, wherever they are present, the Empyrean Guard's sole purpose is the protection of the Empyrean Dream, something of which the Exaltarch is a necessity to achieve.
Infinite Army Auxilliaries:
"To think that the steeds of the West would be neither Gryph nor Lion, but instead the noble centaur. Unmatched in speed and prowess, and undisputed cavalrymen, these fine warriors will make fine addition to the Exaltarchy of Archonnen." - Orys Plax, Grand Primus.
The Grand Army of Archonnen, the Infinite Army, is grand and expansive, however the majority of its roles are limited to characteristics found within certain majority races within the grand nation. Due to this, the Exaltarchy employs auxilliaries from sizable, but more importantly, desirable racial minorities; so whilst humans dominate the ranks of the Infinite Army, the army's auxilliaries are exclusively non-human.
First and most employed of the numerous auxilliary retinues are those from the Centaur tribes of the daggersand dune-sea, located in the center of the nation. Having adapted to the scorching temperatures and the vast distances of one of the world's largest deserts, the centaurs of the Cabor, Koldro, and Omno tribes, the three largest centaur tribes in Archonnen, have long been venerated by locals for their prowess in both speed and coordination.
Now, since the pacification of Archonnen some 200, or so, years ago, the Centaurs of the dune-sea are under the command of the Infinite Army, and due to their warrior traditions, have served as some of the most loyal subjects in the nation.
They're called upon in the nation's time of mobilization, and are obligated to aid the superstate in its military ventures. That being said, the retinue system does not demand that warriors keep up to the herculean regimes of its military forces, and it does also not demand constant service, but it does demand that when called upon, they must answer in number.
The Centaurs of Archonnen are supplied, for their services, with forge-made weapons and armour worthy of their centaur war-craft, which means that any centaur who returns from their first service as a retinue will leave with their own, state-gifted suit of weapons and armour. This leads to the centaurs often being divided in two formations; vetrossi formatismos and neborisso formatismos.
Veterossi Formatismos:
The Centauros Veterossi Formatismos translates to Veteran Centaur Formation in aemerine, and is essentially a formation consisting entirely of veteran centaurs. Equipped in heavy and protective rune-plate, the veteran Centaurs are armed with some of the mightiest war-lances in the land. Employed as shock cavalry, the Centaurs are still equipped with a backup sword should they ever become bogged down in a melee engagement.
Neborisso Formatismos:
The Centauros Neborisso Formatismos translates to Newborn, or Recruit Centaur Formation. The recruits found within this formation are always lead by Veterossi instructors, but are instead equipped with bow and arrow, as opposed to the lance and shield of the Veterossi. Due to their rapid movements and natural coordination, the cavalry archery of the Centauros Neborisso is quite formidable and sometimes even employed without an accompanying Veterossi Formatismos.
"From the frigid, excruciatingly cold world of the great border-mountains they come. To think that even the simple notion of their existence, is such a curious thing. Giants, once thought barbaric, now march with us side-by-side." - Empyraeos Gloria, the First Exaltarch of Archonnen.
The Giants, often called Warriors by the Archonite peoples, are some of the grandest, greatest warriors of the materium. They herald from the great border-mountains of Aemoros, from the illusive and often times legendary giant village of Mogorokor, but have since settled in numerous parts of the world.
Giants and man had their first engagements 300 years into the past, during the crusades of Justinian. The Giants bowed their heads to the Only True God and since cooperations have been extensive and fruitful. Most notable are the Empyrean Guard as well as the legendary titans of the far-west. The giants are special in the sense that they are incompatible with many aspects of Archonnen's world, but the Exaltarchs have always gone to great lenghts to try and assimilate the giants into Archonite Citylife through both ludicrous and ingenius plans of city-construction and architectural design.
Now as many as 10,000 giants live in the many cities of Archonnen, but many more still live in the Border-Mountains. The Giants are long-lived, and difficult to communicate with due to their distance away from Archonnen, so there is instead one-in-a-year report exchanged with the Mogorokoro High Elder, his council and the Exaltarch that takes place in the Empyrean Palace.
This leads to the Mogorokor peoples and their subject tribes are exempt from regular conscription like the Centaur, but are instead forced to send warriors into the Infinite Army. These warriors are known as Titanos, titans. They undergo highly different training than regular infantrymen due to their special qualities, but are employed side-by-side when their training period has expierd with their fellow titans and their more human-looking allies.
A Giant can enter one of two military formations upon their graduation from training; Nihilum Titanos and the Exilator Titanos Formatismos.
Nihilum Titanos Formatismos:
The Nihilum is a typical Formatismos employed by the Infinite Army; it is a unite of cohesion and includes numerous smaller groupings of individuals. However, as the typical accomodation of a Giant's strenght is that of an entire tribulum, the Giants fight in formations of twelve, effectively making up an entire Nihilum with twelve individuals.
Giants fight in highly loose formations, often supporting their more fragile brothers fighting by their feet, but will not be afraid to wreck havoc upon their enemies with their special weaponry and armour. Their armaments are standardized, wielding the Great Halberd paired with a tower shield. Should the situation demand it, the titans are allowed to drop their shields and wield their halberds to the best of its ability.
Exilator Titanos Formatismos:
The Exilator Titanos Formatismos is a highly special formation and consists of Giant Heralds, as they're refered to in Mogorokor, but more commonly known as 'Templars' or 'Guardians', the Exilator Titanos, or Exalted Giants, are able to employ magic like any other Guardian within the employ of the Infinite Army.
A titan guardian is always the leading entity in any titan formation, but they can also make up an entire formation of their own, and when that happens, they make up an Exilator Nihilum Titanos. The armaments of the titan guardians are the same as any other titan infantrymen, however their also wield a sword should worse come to worse.
"Elves, much to answer for you have. Ruled the world for centuries, millenia even, and enslaved millions. We are a nation of former-slaves, all of us. But in this land of the once-enslaved, we are kings. We will not chain you, for we are all tools of justice. But know that your duty is in our hands now. We require your prowess, and since we remain allies even now, after all that has happened, I request your alliegance." - Praetorus Gloria, Third Exaltarch of Archonnen, spoken to the elves of the vast elven districts of Exalossa.
The elves of Archonnen are numerous, but by no means a larger demographic than that of man. They might have ruled the lands once, but now their rules have been reduced to middle-class citizens. There were large tensions between the elven peoples and the Superstate, biggest reason being Empyraeos Gloria's disdain of elvenkind. He had been harsh in his rulings where he should not have been, and enforced unfair rules and regulations to the elves, forcing them into poverty. Under the championship of Praetorus Gloria, the Third to rule in Archonnen, the elves saw freedom again for the first time.
The elven city districts were opened up and they were allowed to leave their former ghettos and new elven settlements were built in the Woodlands of Archonnen's vast territories. Whilst Praetorus might have fixed the present predicament, he also doomed Archonnen into uncertainty; by limiting large territories from being harvested due to vast elven settlements being found within, the food supply of Archonnen now remains in constant uncertainty.
That being said, the Elven Settlements have become pseudo-autonomous governments and rule their own peoples and subjects independently of the Superstate, but they remain still subjects of the Exaltarch and their Archmagnate, but the city of Ulthwenën acts as a magnacy within the greater realm of Leopol.
The only demand that the Exaltarch of the time had in return for their freedom was their service in times of need. Being people of their word, the elves have maintained a battle-capable army for a century now and remain eager to march at the call of their Exaltarch should matter call for it.
Due to their long lifespans, the elven warriors and mages are casters and soldiers without many equals; cohesion being their chief skill, the elven swordsmasters can fight with unparraleled cohesion, for they have trained with their comrades for sometimes as much as centuries. Forged from their own Aewelthine Forge, otherwise known as the Deeproot Forge, the elven warriors may not been innumerous, but their prowess is unmeasurable.
Swordmasters of Ulthwenën:
The Swordsmasters are the Elven Kingdom of Ulthwenën's first line of defense; they are their infantrymen and the largest militarily contributing entity in the elven army. Clad from head-to-toe in traditional elven crafts, wielding sword and shield provided by the many elven smiths of the realm, the Swordsmasters skills are instead what make them deadly.
Whilst the quality of their equipment is second-rate, they make due with what they have, combining efficiency and cohesion with loyalty. The Swordsmasters are the first into the frey and the first to fall, they are the line and they are the defenders.
Bladelords of Ulthwenën:
Wielding massive blades crafted from within the Deeproot Forge, the Ulthwenun Greatblade is a work of peerless craftsmanship. By combining lightweight but strong metals, the Greatblade is not only light for its size, but also well balanced, making it easier to wield in close-quarters-combat.
The Bladelords are seldom heavily armoured, instead wearing leathers and cloth to ensure sleek and prestine agility and performance. Therefore their only defense against others are their weapon and their own agility and skill.
Honourbound Rangers of Ulthwenën:
Greatest archers in all of Archonnen, the Honourbound are excellent wielders of the bow, capable of launching volleys for many hundreds of meters with immense accuracy. Often wielding the best equipment the Deeproot Forge and the numerous craftsmen of Ulthwenën can supply, the Honourbound are the centerpoint of Archonnen's elven pride.
Lords of Stars:
The Lords of the Stars are the greatest of elven martial might in all of Archonnen. Employed by the High Magistrix herself, the Lords of Stars make up 78 seats of the 101 seats in the Elven Council and are often skilled through centuries of martial might. Seldom being native Archonite elves, the Lords of Stars usually find their origins in migration.
Warrior Elves that migrate across the Justinian realms and even sometimes from other religions and eventually stop by Ulthwenën. For one reason or other, the greatest of wandering warriors have settled in the illustrious elven settlement of Ulthwenën and contribute to the realm in form of maintaining and leading their armies.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
"I have suppressed my desires as long as I can remember; I play myself like a pawn, thrown around at the whims of our supposed Saviour-God. There is little to do but entertain his schemes, but in time, I will come to rule my nation as I desire it. When that time comes, Justinian and I will have our first true meeting."
The youngest Exaltarch in history to gain the title and position, Armarossa is nevertheless a highly special individual. Concieved as a love-child by his father, Empyraeos II Gloria and Ainûlindim, the former High Magistrix of Ulthwenën, Empyraeos II begged the Justinian for his Child to become the embodiment of the End; the Herald of New Beginings. The Justinian, miraculously, agreed to Empyraeos II's plans and crafted a wonderchild within the womb of the former Exaltarch's mistress.
Born in usual appearance, his coming was heralded with great joy within the nation, and the entirety of its urban peoples burst into massive celebration, a nation-wide festival which would last so long as an entire month, and would be supplied by the vast riches of Archonnen's accumulated wealths.
The silver hair of Armarossa became apparent first when he had reached his first month of life upon the materium. It had quickly become apparent that his age and rapid maturity was unlike any of which had been seen in natural elven-human children. By the age of 5, he might as well have been 15, and by the age of 15, he had already learned much of what there is to learn within the Empyrean Palace's vast libraries. His natural excellence with both weapons and arms, but magic as well, granted him massive popularity amongst the nation's vast bureacracy, but most importantly, with the people.
The people honoured the wonderchild exactly as his father would have wanted him to be, and at the age of 17, his father abdicated the role to him in a ceremony orchestrated and overseen by the Justinian itself. For the last seven years he has ruled with impressive ability, and has become an iconic figure amongst all walks of life, both inside the nation, and outside, with few rulers not knowing of whom he is and what he has become.
That being said, whilst Armarossa plays his role as Exaltarch with flawless ability and theatric excellence, his true desires have never truly been addressed and his emotions remain trapped deep within his inner conscious, sometimes to the point where he forgets about his feelings and desires entirely.
Whilst Armarossa was little, he had read many things, but amongst his favourites were the many legends of the Aemos Imperios and its decendants, the glory and the grandeur that the nation was and what it had become. Whilst this might be a subconscious link between one of the Justinian aspects linked to his consciousness, it didn't stop his fascination.
Armarossa became so entranced by the tales that he wanted to recreate them, literally rebuild the legend of old, and to experience the tale of Wolfraum himself, although naturally without the abrupt destruction of the mega-sovereignty.
Due to his condition and situation as the Exaltarch, and the scrutiny and immense surveilance he endures from the Justinian, his feelings and desires have become morphed and perverted, creating a subconscious drive, almost a necessity, to create the Aemos Imperios and to establish a new world order that can challenge even the Gods, much like how Wolfraum challenged and defeated even the Dragons of Yore.
"We owe the Gloria blood much; they freed us from their own oppressive hands, they admitted to their weaknesses and in return gave us many freedoms. Therefore we are obliged to do the same for them."
Born on the day of false stars, the elven High Magistrix has lived for many years, and is a direct descendant from former Sancthiyin Kingdoms. Due to the biologically immortal bodies and the everlasting beauty of their mortal coils, the age of Indûlondë is impossible to assume, and many elves seldom wish to discuss their age amongst others.
Child of Ainonën, the Last King, Indûlondë was forced to flee from the elven capital of Ûlmin during its last moments. Captured by the combined forces of the United Justinian Coalition 300 years ago, the elves were forced into prison-cities erected in the temporary region of Archonnen for indoctrination. The defeat at Tramontan was, however, catastrophic and halted the Justinian advance and forced the coalition into a retreat.
They settled in Archonnen and built up the region, using elven labourers in the process. It was hard work, but it was not slave's labour; the elves survived off of their hard work, but remained oppressed in all but name under the rule of the first two Exaltarchs. When Praetorus took power, one of the first decrees he laid forth was that of the Free Elves.
His critics said that he'd been charmed by their witch-like beauty, but the elves were joyous. Indûlondë was awestruck, she was certain that they'd live like labourers for the rest of their lives, but now they were promised free lands, free resources, and free lives; they would become free elves. She worked hard to repay the debt that Praetorus laid upon her and her peoples, whilst the first High Magistrix' lacked the same benevolence she had held, when she took power after Armarossa's birth, she would come to revolutionize the Free Realm of Ulthwenën many times over.
She was no hero, but her many years of living had given her insights, insights of all classes of living. She had acquired benevolence from her times as a labourer, she had been given forgiveness by Praetorus' decree, and she had been given wisdom from her studies and duties as high administrator in the elven realm.
"The Frontier is an odd place, one can never truly understand it. The Aemorosi mountains tower over our cities, stretching far above the horizons. They block out the sun, causing torrents of snowstorms to rush down from its peaks, cloaking the entire frontier in its white essence. Nevertheless, this is my realm, and under the guise of the Exaltarch, whoever they be, I shall do my duty as the vanguard."
Lord of the Frontier, sometimes known as the Winterlands, but officially known as Pinnopol. Horus Orass, amongst the oldest of human bureacrats in active employment, has ruled Pinnopol for 56 years and had close relations with both Armarossa's father, and his grandfather, both Exaltarchs.
Amongst the wisest of men found within the Superstate's vast bureacratic machine, he maintains order within the lawless realms of the Frontier and maintains the frontier's armies and protects the great city of Petrix.
Born in the Heartlands, Horus is very much an outsider in the Frontier's highly unique culture and demographics, but the people have come to love him for who he is due to his benevolence and acceptance, but also due to his sense of justice and the lenghts of which he goes to keep the Frontier as safe as possible. It is easy to feel alienated when living in the frontier, forced to wait for decades before given access to the vast golden fields and silver forests that lie beyond the tyrannic and gargantuan Millennium Walls.
Nevertheless Horus has done what he can, and has been given many boons for his service. He is considered the Supreme Commander, under the Exaltarch, and is the second-in-command of all of Archonnen's military might. That being said, it's might can only be brought to bear under the authority of the Exaltarch's direct command.
Horus is skeptical of the Exaltarchy's infamous isolationism, and desires to protect and save his brothers and sisters in the Justinian Kingdoms to the East, most notably Ouroborasia.
"There is little left to do but serve now, as we have in the past, as we will in the future. We rode with the Gloria some-300 years ago, and we will ride with them again should they call upon us. The Pax are honourbound to do so."
The House of Pax, forged from the Honour Guard of Empyraeos Gloria during the battle of Tramontan, they were granted titles for their service and they were granted one house to maintain. As such, the house of Pax are amongst the most loyal of Great Houses in Archonnen and often follow the orders of the Exaltarch blindly and without questioning.
Justice Pax is no different, whilst she may be the leader of her house, she is no true leader in reality. She is a soldier through and through, a warrior of few equals, but no leader. She commands her house like a legion, and they all respect her abilities and prowess on the battlefield, however, she is a dog to Armarossa, and sits by his side in any engagement.
She is the voice that repeats his commands so that all whom follow him hear, and she is the warrior who champions his cause in any duel. She maintains the engineering circles of the Machine Guilds under orders of her esteemed ruler, but in truth knows little of the engineering arts. Instead, she was given the duty to of supervising them for she has the uncanny ability to inspire all around her.
She may be no leader, her strategies may be flawed, but as a warrior she has the ability to inspire all around here with her determination and ceaseless endurance. All who have fought with her during her time in the Infinite Army attest for this, and her legion, the XXXII, would become to be known as the workhorses of Archonnen, and they took upon that name with pride.
"All things shall be forgotten, all evil shall be forgiven. In the Empyrean Dream, we will be reunited. Until then, we shall do our duty, and none shall be excused from their laziness, none shall be excused for their lack of faith. The maws of evil must be crushed, and therefore the most evil of all things is silence and inaction."
Luxiticanus Arboria, sometimes known as the Branded Lightbearer, is an elf but lacks their prestine beauty, instead having an absolutely hideous appearance. Walking on the border between life and death, Luxiticanus is kept alive only by the immense regenerative powers that can only be brought forth by the might of a Champion of the Only True God.
Branded for heresy during the age of the Elven Kingdoms in the West, Luxiticanus was sentenced to death via dragonfire, but at that moment, the Justinian descended, and declared him to amongst the first of Justinian Heroes. Luxiticanus survived the dragon's flames only through the direct intervention of the Justinian, but his body would forever be scarred by the encounter, never to recover, always to be on the edge of death.
As such, Luxiticanus became the First Administrator of Justinian's realms and acquired large fame not only for his appearance but also for his scholarly and religious personality.
He moved to Archonnen, once the realm had been established, and has since served as the Arch-Administrator for the Exaltarchs that would come to rule the land over the years. Now, after a century of service to Archonnen, Armarossa is his master, and Luxiticanus has become the High Preacher and Arch-Administrator of the nation.
"I am he whom lay forth the decrees of guilt and innocence, I am he whom weighs the goods and evils of each man, woman, and child. I am he whom is the first Judge of the End, and I am he whom is the servant of the Empyrean; the Judge, Jury, and Executioner. All things, status, and accomplishments are laid bare before me."
The Grand Judge of the Exaltarchy of Archonnen, Rex Eternus is amongst the mightiest of his kind. Wielding the military might and the justice necessary to carry out his duties, Rex Eternus has brought many witches to death and many criminals to their knees. Punishment in Archonnen is heavy, often deadly, and Rex Eternus is the one who spearheads this process.
As the First Judge, Rex Eternus is the most qualified individual to give Judgement to criminals in the many places of the Exaltarchy, second only to the Exaltarch. Though as the Exaltarch is most usually busy with other duties, Rex Eternus carries out Judgements when the Exaltarch cannot and when he, himself, is not tied up in other administrative matters within his own Archmagnacy.
Often known as the Book of Law, the individual that is Rex Eternus is scholarly and academic to a fault; often behaving and interacting in a manner that can be compared to speaking with a law book.
"The Exaltarch has appointed me your overseer, heads of the Grand Oratorium. I demand nothing else than your utmost in your duties, and punishments to fulfil my expectations will be severe; we are all Working Men here."
The exemplary Empyraeos Immortasus, a woman with an immense work ethic. The model individual for the Archonnen ideal of the Working Man, Empyraeos Immortasus has fought hard for her position. Having been the lastborn under the previous head of her family, she took ever stride available to her to ascend the order of inheritance, ultimately leading her to become the head of her family.
Having experience in the Great Oratorium of Archonnen, arguably the largest Oratory in the Justinian realm, she was selected for her position as Orator Ultimatum due to her background, but also her individual qualities.
Her Archmagnacy of Leopol was first met with skepticism by her subjects, seeing her as a rookie in the field, but her subjects have been pleasantly suprised by her prowess, making Leopol one of the mightiest regions in all of the Heartlands.
EXTRA INFORMATION
Full History: Archonnen's history has its founding in the Aemos Imperios, namely being the former Crownlands of the vast mega-sovereignty of Wolfraum. It was a poor land, but with the herald of Wolfraum and his conquest, the lands quickly became rich, and vast wonders were constructed in rapid succession. Slaves, labourers, and men all contributed to its creation, and many wonders remain from that time, with Exalossa being built upon the ruins of Aemon, the capital of the ancient supernation.
As the Aemos Imperios' rise was quick, but its fall even quicker, the nation was unequaled, but the Gods themselves were jealous of its power and disposed of Wolfraum after he had subjugated the Old Pantheons' enemies. The mega-sovereignty fell apart into thousands of petty kingdoms, all of which fed upon eachother, and once petrified nations spread out across the weak states like carrion birds, consuming the riches of the shattered empire.
Many centuries would pass, and many rulers would come to vy over the former nation's lands. With the heralding of the Justinian, however, things would change drastically. The former elven rulers that feasted upon the ancient knowledge and power of the Aemos Imperios were slaughtered by the revolutionary forces of the Justinian's coalition. Arrogant elves were forced to bend the knee, and those who fought against the new tide were slaughtered without mercy.
The Aemos Imperios' heartlands were reclaimed, and renamed into the temporary region of Archonnen in the typical arrogance of the first crusaders, assuming the Sacrilege War would be over in decades. With the defeat at Tramontan, the Coalition retreated at the helm of Supreme Commander Empyraeos Gloria. They rallied under his banners and established Archonnen. it would take one and a half centuries before the nation would become a power worthy of the name, however, in that time the regions once vast red pantheon enclaves were almost nullified, and all that remains are scared worshippers with nowhere left to go but into the darkness of death.
The nation of Archonnen has risen, and by 150AWH, the nation is a sizable superpower, potentially even the strongest in the world. It marched with its infinite arrogance upon the Great Taunt, as it had been erected in defiance of the End, right in the middle of the world. The great nation of Archonnen suffered catastrophic defeat, its entire bureacratic assembly wiped out in an instant. The bureacracy adapted, however, and a new Exaltarch was appointed.
The defeat humbled and angered the nation to no end, and great grudges are kept to this day against the schemes and minions of the Turqoise Deciever and his plots. The paranoia of the state is partly caused by that defeat, and the hyper-awareness that the world, and the corruption within it, are neverending.
Today the nation has remained largely silent on the international stage, keeping a strict sense of isolationism and harsh immigration and border policies. Its foreign policy is simply that of trade, with the only nation they actively engage with being Sacrosanctia. In its period of isolation, the nation has exploded into power.
Its economy is immense and its resources vast, its military revolutionized and modernized, great care being taken to mold its every aspects. The nation is driven now by an immense sense of rage and a vast desire for justice, with an Exaltarch as a leader who has ever desire to establish a New World Order under his domain.
List of Historical Grievances:
- The Turqoise Domain (TQLR/Turqoise Deciever) - The cataclysmic defeat at the Great Taunt may never be forgotten.
- The Realms of Ouroborasia (East Ouroborasia/Ouroborasian Empire) - As the children of Crusades led by Archonite nobles and warriors, Archonnen has many reasons to bring Ouroborasia under the proper wing.
Relations:
- The Divine Realms of Sacrosanctia (Sacrosanctium/The Justinian's Realms) - Relationships between Archonnen and Sacrosanctia are immense, with the nations often cooperating in matters of administration, education, law, and magic. Trade between Archonnen and Sacrosanctia are also high, with numerous trade-routes going between the two.
- The Loyalist Realms of West Ouroborasia (Loyalist Ouroborasia/The Crownprince) - Archonnen looks upon West Ouroborasia with pity, but refuses to act militarily; it ships vast amounts of resources, food, and provisions to them instead, keeping their side of the civil war alive and fighting.
- The Realms of Aberys (The Kingdom of Aberys/The Federation of Aberysian Kingdoms) - Trade between Archonnen and Aberys is possible, but highly regulated, the Superstate only allowing Pinnopol's markets to Aberysian traders. That being said, the nation is accepting of Aberysian aristocracy, since numerous of them are actually Archonite citizens due to family ties.
Cultural Notes: Archonnen is a nation of many cultures with each city having its own way of expressing itself. Due to this, the Superstate has enforced "Standardized Culture" in an attempt to unify the peoples of Archonnen even further. The Standardized Culture in question embodies many ideas of the Working Man; dutiful citizens whom perform their duties as instructed, and do their assignments on time. People who work for the sake of the Reconvergeance and people who do not disobey the Superstate, for it knows what is best for all of us. It is an ideal of sacrifice, sacrifice for the Reconvergeance, and it is enforced harshly.
The Standardized Culture is enforced by the Military and city guardsmen with ruthless efficiency, but seldom do they employ force to indoctrinate its people into the Working Man's culture. The Guardsmen instead enter the household of the person in question and discusses the wellbeing of the people, the Justinian faith, and the Working Man's ideal with the individual, before finalizing the statement with a harsh fine unless they choose to adopt the cultural norms.
If they are deemed uncompliant, the Superstate will employ violence if no other method works.
