A once-dominant military empire, the Kashian Empire stands as a testament to strength, discipline, and unwavering tradition. It was the first to fall in the War of the Faceless, a devastating conflict that nearly shattered its foundation. Though a century has passed, the scars remain, and the empire now fights relentlessly to reclaim its former glory and dominance.
Bound by a strict hierarchy, Kashians hold military service as the highest honor, with families boasting long lineages of warriors, tacticians, and commanders. Strength, both physical and political, is the core tenet of Kashian identity. Those who fail to uphold their duty are seen as weak—a shame not only to themselves but to their lineage. The empire has always been expansionist, driven by a belief that only the strong have the right to rule.
Capital City
Vash-Rai
Geography
The Kashian Empire is wedged between the eastern coast of Lomiindor and the Cossono Mountains to the west. To the south lies the arid lands of Tuk Bradek, the orcish kingdom, while to the north, dark threats stir in the Worissa Wastelands and the Saltmarshes.
Climate
A mix of hot summers and bitterly cold winters (Köppen: Dfa - Humid Continental Climate). The eastern coast sees seasonal storms, while the western foothills of the Cossono Mountains provide harsh, dry winds.
Population
Estimated: 3.8 million
Human (85%), Orc (5%), Kholo (5%), Hobgoblin (3%), Dwarf (2%), other ancestries (<1%)
Government
A militaristic stratocracy—rule is entirely dictated by military hierarchy.
A Short History
A Short History
Thousands of years ago, humans first arrived in Lomiindor, settling among the varied ancestries of the land. They integrated swiftly, bringing new technologies, trade networks, and philosophies, fostering the rise of flourishing civilizations. Among these was the Hesos States, a collection of mixed-ancestry city-states in southeastern Lomiindor, known for their cultural dynamism and political complexity.
However, peace was shattered nearly two thousand years ago during the Blood Orc Crusades, an era of unparalleled brutality. The Red-Cursed Orcs, tainted by war-madness from a wrathful god, swept across the Hesos lands in a frenzy of conquest, razing cities and slaughtering entire populations. The Hesos States, unable to present a unified front, were devastated—fractured beyond repair.
From the ashes of this war, three distinct nations emerged. The Hesos States endured in a diminished form, their once-thriving city-states now fragmented and struggling to maintain autonomy. To the south, the Thres Protectorate rose as a nation dedicated to defense, resilience, and peace while safeguarding its borders. In the east, the Kashian Empire was forged by warlords who had grown weary of passive defense, instead embracing an ideology of strength, conquest, and dominance.
It was the Kashian warlords who ultimately turned the tide against the Blood Orc Crusades. Hardened by constant warfare, they transformed their scattered forces into an unstoppable war machine, systematically crushing the Red-Cursed Orcs and pushing them back into the Arid Expanse. This victory defined the empire’s identity—a nation that conquers, rather than endures.
From that point forward, the Kashian Empire stood as a testament to military prowess and expansionist ambition, rising to become one of the most feared and respected forces in Lomiindor. Yet, centuries later, their downfall in the War of the Faceless would shake the very foundation of their empire, leaving them to claw their way back toward supremacy in a world that no longer fears them as it once did.
General information
Geography
The Kashian Empire’s eastern coast is lined with natural harbors and heavily fortified naval strongholds, ensuring dominance over maritime trade and warships. Inland, the heartland of the empire is a vast plateau, ideal for cavalry and large-scale military movements.
To the west, the Cossono Mountains act as a natural barrier, though hostile raiders and rebellious clans occasionally emerge from hidden passes. The south, leading into the Arid Expanse, marks the contested border with the Orcish kingdom of Tuk Bradek, a region constantly scarred by skirmishes.
To the north, the Worissa Wastelands and the Saltmarshes are shrouded in mystery and fear. These regions have become active again after the destruction brought by a corrupted ancient dragon at the heart of Tauren heritage, with disturbing reports of dark forces, strange entities, and entire regiments vanishing into the shadows.
Current ongoing conflicts
The Northern War: Forces from the Worissa Wastelands and the Saltmarshes are pushing into Kashian territory, using strange magic and unknown tactics. The empire is struggling to hold the line.
Tuk Bradek Skirmishes: The orcs of the south raid the empire’s borders, testing its weakened defenses.
Internal Power Struggles: Several warlords seek the throne, believing the current Emperor is too weak to restore Kashian dominance.
Government
The Emperor is the supreme authority, and succession is determined not by bloodline alone, but by military conquest. Any commander can challenge the throne—but only if they have the support of three High Generals and can prove their might in a trial of war.
The Council of Warlords oversees key aspects of governance, such as military supply chains, battlefield strategy, and law enforcement. Governors of cities and provinces are all high-ranking officers, ensuring that every Kashian settlement is run with military precision. Civilian bureaucracy exists but serves only to support the war machine—all resources, industries, and policies are dictated by the needs of the military.
Every citizen is expected to serve—either as a soldier, an armsmaker, a builder of fortresses, or in some other form of war service. Those who refuse are exiled.
Image by Michelle Raponi from Pixabay