[Ostheim]

A new tome turns up in the Elder's house library...

Long has it been known in Risenholm that the world we find ourselves in is old - it is evident in the Well, in the ruins within which our humble village was built. Most strikingly, it is all but written out in the words scribed beneath the twin statues just outside the Well, the first thing nearly every fresh Risen lays eyes upon.

“You who inherit tomorrow: We have sacrificed everything so that you might live on free of the burdens of our folly. Live for the future, for there is naught but sorrow behind you.”

These words are open to much interpretation, though I draw attention specifically to the final words. Behind us, I believe, does not refer to where we have come from - though it may. I find it more likely that it refers to the past of this world, which through the exploration of the environs close to Risenholm and the many Scars dotting the landscape, we have realized to be ancient indeed. Civilization has flourished in this world in the past, and the ruins Risenholm was built in are but a fraction of the evidence. I would like to draw primary attention to the namesake of this tome, however - the Empire. I will focus primarily upon what we know, and what we can surmise, though without further exploration and uncovered evidence, a portion of the knowledge contained within these words will be by necessity supposition. Most of my conclusions draw from journeying into the ceaseless, ravaged city of Cohecium, as well as throughout the swamplands south of the Suthwood.

Based on my explorations, I can surmise several possible truths regarding the Empire - first, that it was likely a multi-racial autocracy seems likely, given that Scar-spawned creatures within Cohecium come in a variety of racial profiles. These, I believe, to be the distorted mirroring of reality that is typical of Scar-spawns. As of yet, it is uncertain whether Cohecium itself was part of the Empire, or a city-state successor - but in either case, given its proximity to examples of Imperial ruins and architecture, it can be assumed that the Ceaseless City was either part of it at some point, or arose after its fall with a closely related racial profile.

Second, that its borders extended very closely to Risenholm’s present location, or perhaps even entirely within Risenholm’s boundaries. Ruins evidence suggests that the Empire maintained a highway system throughout the region, particularly evident in the swamplands. In addition, and notably related to said swamplands, the Empire had built structures throughout that area, particularly pump stations, likely to maintain and regulate the landscape we now see completely fallen into bog. As of today’s evidence, and my own findings, I can only conclusively say that the Imperial borders definitively encompassed the swamplands.

Third, the Empire was a multi-religious entity. Descriptions of the powers commonly known as the Sleeping Gods are scarce-to-nonexistent, but there is plentiful mention of Aer-worship and adherence to the principles of Shentar. Particularly, the aforementioned highway evidence is dedicated to Shentar-as-King, which would suggest that the Empire was, at a certain point, ruled by a paragon of leadership who had undertaken the mantle of Shentar. Closely related to Shentar’s adherence are the numerous temples (some standing, some only now existing within Scar-echoes) and Scars near the assumed borders of the Empire, which are clear examples of Shentar’s principles being widespread. With regards to Aer, books recovered from a Scar within Cohecium also make mention of that worship - a parable of Aer-priests deceiving merchants in order to invest in local infrastructure explicitly mentions the Empire. Also within Cohecium (within a Scar, at least) exists mentions of Aer-worship by the common workers and people of the city.

Whether one worship or another was promoted or oppressed is yet-unknown, but it is likely that these commonly-understood religions prominence in today’s Risenholm owe that popularity to the Empire.

Fourth, the Empire likely had a noble aristocracy - though direct evidence of this is lacking. In a particular Scar in the swamplands, mention is made of an influential noble house of Fiedenza, one which engaged in ample intrigues and deplorable underhanded tactics. It is probable, given the location of the Scar, that this House was a part of the Imperial system. Mentions of a ‘doge’ of Cohecium are also evidenced within the city itself, as well as in numerous works of literature - whether this title was a noble-position or not is unknown, but can be assumed given documentation recovered from Scars which imply a certain degree of esteem owed to the position.

Fifth, the Empire was likely technologically advanced, and likely had full-knowledge of Scars and the Power that flowed forth from them. If we assume that Cohecium was part of the Empire at any point, or a successor state, it is clear that technological endeavors were of great interest to the Empire, made emblematic by the countless automatons that roam the city streets of Cohecium itself. These constructs are ill-understood, and would likely take an entirely separate tome to delve into, but it can be assumed they were made possible by the harnessing of Scar Power. Automata aside, the construction of Cohecium, the highway system, and various other architectural marvels imply a relatively advanced society. In particular, the pump network required to regulate the swamplands would have had to have been quite skillfully made.

Sixth, and finally for this work as it stands today, the Empire engaged in diplomacy with outside entities. It is well-evidenced that societies of monstrous nature have existed in the region - primarily of goblin-kind and bullywugs. Though interaction with goblin-kind is scarce, the goblins of the region clearly have emulated technological advances, most likely pilfered from the Empire itself, either during its existence or from its corpse. More conclusive is the Empire’s interactions with the bullywugs of the region, who themselves are plainly organized into a well-structured society themselves - evidence derived from Scars implies that the Empire had dealings with the bullywugs, perhaps in an attempt to make them a client state, or tributaries. Regardless, this relationship did not last, as the bullywugs conspired to attack their holdings and sabotage the oft-mentioned pumping station. This, of course, is almost certainly the reason for the swampland’s current existence; a far-more suitable environment for them, doubtless.

Based on all of the above conclusions and their attached evidences, we can safely surmise the existence of a wide-spread imperial power in the immediate region. Little is known beyond some of these conclusions - and as the history of this land is an ever-shifting and ephemeral subject, none of the above conclusions should be counted as objective fact. The evidence, however, speaks for itself, and it is clear that the history of this world we find ourselves in is long and storied. It is up to we Risen to learn from these past mistakes, made by people we will never know - to live, as the words say, for the future. To you Risen reading this, I say only this - we must learn from the past, but hardly seek to emulate it if ruins and sorrow are all that are left.

(A short, final, author’s note at the bottom reads: a work of on-going study, and subject to revision.)

[Ostheim]

The tome is slowly added to - rather than edits being made just yet, it seems the author is intent on adding more as corrections or additions are made...

My latest travels brought me deep into Cohecium with the aid of the dwarf Kili and Will, better known as Big Will - it is their aid that I owe these latest corrections and additions to my work. Suffice it to say, the trip was perilous, but enlightening.

First, I tackle the subject of Cohecium's sovereignty. Judging by the ample references to the Empire within Cohecium's walls, I am now firm in the notion that Cohecium was in fact part of the Empire itself. Fliers strung up throughout the city are explicit in their anti-Imperial stance, however, implying that the city was wracked by unrest. The phrase 'cast off its (Cohecium's) shackles' appears to be informative; it is plausible that Cohecium was a conquest of the Empire's, or simply that the natives of the city had become so far-detached from the Empire's norms that they were considered slave-holders, rather than part of the same whole. Of course, the phrase also was part of a blatant piece of anti-Imperial propaganda, so it is difficult to know the truth of this matter. Still, the fact remains that Cohecium was part of the Empire.

Second, judging by the echoes within Scars, as well as opposing propaganda within the city that was pro-Empire, I can deduce that the Empire was, at least in its death throes, far from religiously cohesive. The Empire's establishment, perhaps its ruling class, or simply the religion of the most core provinces or cities, seems to have worshiped Aer. In its dying days, the Empire was wracked by civil war due to the rising of a pretender who adhered to Shentar's philosophical path. Many of the fliers make explicit reference to religion, with the anti-Imperial pieces in support of Shentar, and the pro-Imperial pieces explicitly in support of the established Aer-worship. Were both religions permitted at one point? It is difficult to say, but it's obvious that religious conflict marked the final days of the Empire.

Risenholm should take note of this.

Third, and finally, for now, it is more obvious to me that the Empire was quite technologically advanced in a more general sense. Scars within Cohecium are suggestive of extensive technological wonders, from the forges that produced their automatons, to the shipping yards where the logistics were overseen by a completely automated, possibly magi-technical mind. The same holds true for the aforementioned forges - it would seem that Cohecium's infrastructure and logistics were largely out of the hands of people, instead delegated to what was known as 'the Chems.' The Scars of Cohecium heavily suggest that in the Empire's last days, the Chems were, to put it lightly, unreliable - they may even have been responsible for contributing to the disasters that wracked the Empire and helped to guarantee its ruin.

The question remains, however, why these intellects malfunctioned - or worse, simply turned on their masters. Sabotage by Shentaran sympathizers? Perhaps. Or perhaps the Chems learned to detest their creators. I find it, also, exceedingly likely at the time of this writing that a Chem still exists within Cohecium - the mysterious voice that rallied an abundance of automata against an incursion launched by Risenholm Scar-hunters in search of loot and food for the village. Given that the probable-Chem referred to the people within Cohecium as invaders and pests, among other less-than-flattering terms, it's highly likely that the Chems as a whole, if any but this one exist, can be assumed to be hostile to kith in general.

I shall add more to this work as is necessary - many mysteries still remain surrounding both the Empire and Cohecium, the primary nexus of fallen-Imperial culture within close proximity to Risenholm.