Novan Empire

The Kingdom of Nova was founded by a warlord named Novarius, and marked the beginning of the Third Age, the age of human dominance across the continent. Over the next few centuries, it expanded to become the largest nation in the known world.

Citizens of the Novan Empire are known as "Novans", "Novarians" or simply "Imperials", the latter particularly outside the Empire itself.

The Novan Empire is ruled by a senate, with the emperor having executive power to overrule their decisions three times a year. The empire grants a degree of autonomy and independence to its vassal states, and allows them to preserve their culture. However, regardless, they often end up being "absorbed" into the greater Novan culture to gain more favour and prestige within the empire, as there is nothing worse for an imperial province than to be known as a distant backwater.

On paper, the Novan Empire offers equal rights to all citizens under the law, regardless of race, gender or wealth. However, in reality, wealth and power can grant one great influence in the courts, and as most senators come from wealthy and ancient bloodlines, the aristocracy still pulls the strings behind the.

Apart from their formidable navy with its powerful triremes, the Empire's military strength is made greater by its 15 Legions. Each Legionnaire is given a plot of land and a reward of 3000 gold after ten years of service.

Despite centuries of expansion, the Empire's growth has been put to a halt with the emergence of its new enemy: the White Horde...

History
The predecessor to the Novan Empire, the Kingdom of Nova, was founded after a nomadic warlord called Novarius settled down at the site of modern day Grand Nova, and declared himself king. This event was not much different than the founding of many city states and small kingdoms at the time, and indeed, not too different from what still happens in the Greylands or Sudland to this day. The only notable thing about the Kingdom of Nova during its early days was its proto-senate, originally made up of chieftains following Novarius.

The Kingdom did thrive for the first 200 years of its existence, however, and Grand Nova grew into an impressive city. During the rule of King Novarius III, however, a red dragon known as Scharz settled in the Costa Hills just a stones throw from the capital, and began terrorizing the kingdom, until he was slain by a barbarian from the Greylands called Hector.

As a reward for his service, Novarius III granted Hector nobility and the rank of Legate, thus, founding the house of Inferna. Hector eventually rose to the rank of High Legate, and after assisting the dwarves of Kibarr against a duergar invasion, formed an alliance with them and added the territory of Kibarr to the Kingdom of Nova. A few years later, the forces of Kibarr and Nova conquered the province of Korosis after a long and bloody war, with Hector leading the assault.

Novarius III died with no heirs, so in the year 221 of the Third Era, the senate voted Hector Inferna, the man who had essentially lead the Novans during Novarius III's reign anyway, as the new king. Hector declared himself emperor, reformed Nova, Kibarr and Korosis into the Novan Empire and laid the foundations of the Imperial Legions. Thus, the Novan Empire as we know it today was born.

Over the next few centuries, many more provinces were added to the Empire. The Edan Empire led an invasion of the Novan Empire in 532 of the Third Era, but was pushed back by a mere 300 legionnaires of the Third Legion from Korosis. The Empire would suffer its largest military defeat around 150 years later, however, when they attempted to conquer the newly established Duchy of Zlavoia.

In 823, the Empire first faced its greatest foe yet: the White Horde, a large army of barbaric tribes, bolstered by undead raised by powerful necromancers. The Empire has been locked into war with the White Horde for the past 20 years, with neither side managing to gain a clear advantage.

Provinces
1.    Novaria

2.    Kibarr

3.    Korosis

4.    The Riverlands

5.    Coastland

6.    Tovaka

7.    Northedge

8.    Torus Isles

9.    Hearland

10.    Shola

11.    Eswood

12.    Orlonda

13.    Vallade

14.    Sarius Isles

15.    Khetaty

Real World Inspiration
The Novan Empire is inspired, unsurprisingly, by the Roman Empire, but also by ancient Greece, renaissance Italy and the Spanish Empire.