Valerian Empire

The Valerian Empire, more commonly referred to as simply "the Empire", is the largest sovereign state in the known world. Ruled by Emperor Maximilian Sheredyn Valerian, the Empire is largely decentralized, with much of its power delegated to the rulers of the various Imperial provinces.

Rule of a particular Imperial province is granted to whoever maintains the greatest potential for stability and productivity within the province. Many provinces are controlled by noble families that have ruled in the areas since before it was annexed by the Empire, while others are controlled by powerful merchant houses or Imperial military leaders.

Imperial Provinces
The Valerian Empire is made up of a number of relatively independent provinces. Each province is self-governing, with its own leadership and code of law, though they must honor Imperial decrees.

Isles of Avalon
The Province of Avalon is a collection of lush, idyllic islands home to strange, eldritch creatures and unpredictable fey, as well as a culture dedicated to honoring traditions dating back millennia.

Lyonesse
Lyonesse is the heartland of the Empire, Emperor Maximilian Valerian IV ruling all of the Valerian Empire from the capital city of Serenis. Serenis occupies an island in the middle of a large man-made lake, with the rest of the province defined by rolling hills and verdant forests dotted with fruit orchards and ancient ruins.

Marcelle
Marcelle is a province known for its decadence, both in food and society. Marcelle's expansive grasslands are famous for their fine wines, rich and sophisticated cheeses, and uncompromising standards in all things culinary, while its society is infamous for the vast divide between the haves and the have-nots. Its nobility live is a state of constant luxury, engaging in indulgences that even the other noble families of the Empire find excessive, while the peasantry ekes out a meager, desperate existence in their shadow.

Mithodril
Possibly the strangest province in the Empire, Mithodril is truly alien. Very little of the flora and fauna found elsewhere throughout the Empire is found on the island province, instead replaced by towering mushrooms, strange reptiles, and enormous insects. The native elves have a mastery of arcane magic and alchemy that few outside their mushroom-towers can hope to match.

Sangardesh
A mountainous province well above sea-level, Sangardesh is the ancestral homeland of the catfolk. Its ancient pilgrimage trails are strung with brightly-colored prayer flags, and the sound of bells and chimes echoing off the granite cliffs is near omnipresent.

Stridora
The northernmost province of the Empire, Stridora is a land of craggy hills and wide valleys. Stridora is famous for its exquisite wines and warriors dedicated to the art of dueling.

Zeryphesh
The province of Zeryphesh is a loose coalition of city-states that are spread across the sands of the Mana Wastes. The province takes its name from the largest and most influential of the city-states, which in turn takes its name from the perpetually-masked Zeraphi people.