Aestatian

The Prideful

History

The Aestatian people may have likely originated from the far east as a coastal seafaring culture of the lost provinces, before being driven from their ancestral lands by some foreign enemy or natural disaster. Culturally similar groups then wandered the lower seas before eventually settling on the island documented today as Aestatia, where their culture was allowed to blossom privately without the influence of direct neighbors. It was during this time that the nomadic peoples settled and united under one name, forced to cooperate under the threat of pirates and other distant powers looking to expand. It is during this initial period that Aestatians mastered the sea, not only honing the skill of their sailors and captains but also colonizing various inlets and archipelagos around Aestatia so as to add to their domain.

Some 1,000 years ago (before the collapse) the Aestatians defeated a secondary power in the region who had become a rival militarily and economically. The snowball of Aestatian power in the region began here, but little is known of the civilization that contested Aestatia then that it was just a small kingdom by the name of Mycthenia. Records of battles, victories, and spoils are kept, but none offer evidence regarding the deep identity of this long lost foe. In a long series of conquests, the Aestatian kingdom expanded gradually, slowly enveloping small neighbors as its own government changed dynasty several times.

400 years ago (before the collapse), Aestatia changed from a kingdom to an empire, with the reigning monarch delegating large swathes of land and power to his lieutenants in a bid to retain their loyalty. Previously the king was free to rule over his subjects, who were individually too small to contest crown rule. Emperor Tarsos II had changed the balance and allowed multiple vassals the ability to deny his authority. Before long, fighting broke out between two provincial petty kings and the complicated string of rivalries and alliances woven by the multitude of vassals lead to Aestatia breaking into civil war. The war pressed on for ten grueling years before a final victor emerged from the conflict. Renowned by his allies and begrudgingly respected by his conquered enemies, Oros Junias the Benevolent and his alliance ended the war on the tenth anniversary of the conflict's start. Marching on the capital in a grand parade of diplomatic skill and military power, Oros Junias ended Tarsos' line and took the throne for himself. Proclaiming a new era of rebuilding and unity, his reign is marked by prosperity and technological advancement.

Oros Junias died peacefully in the 45th year of his reign and was promptly venerated by the church as the Father of the Empire. Following Oros was a series of emperors, some successful and others less so. It was, however, the reign of Hastatius Bendellum Orata that saw to the corruption of the Aestatian people. His reign would be brief and marred by famine and natural disaster. Kiphysius, the captain of the Emperor's personal guard, the Constarii, would be the first to fall. In the middle of the night the Constarii took to the emperor's quarters and slew Hastatius in his bed. The following day Atlas Caer Junias was elected Emperor by Kiphysius and the rest of his guard.

Atlas had been a distant cousin of the previous Emperor, and was a man easily motivated by personal gain. Under the first few months of his rule several purges were made, each targeting potential rivals within the military, the senate, and the civilian populace. Those who could not have their loyalty guaranteed were stripped of rank, exiled, or executed. Atlas eventually would cause the Aestatians to lose their grip on the populace of the provinces, the wide and expanding Empire forced to return back to their continent from the wild lands to pursue efforts on the home-front, where they were made to put down rebellions challenging Atlas's newfound and cruel rule.

Eventually, Atlas was assassinated and deposed, causing a civil war to break out between those who wished for a new direection-that of a republic, and those loyal to the empire Atlas had left behind. Though long and grueling, the republicans emerged victorious, allowing a man named Octavian to be elected, and eventually to lead the republic to a new golden age of recovery and growth. This was followed by his son, Trajanus, who inherited the wealth and power of his father and allowed the empire to regain much of its lost territories and even make expeditions into new and untamed lands. Before the great collapse, Trajanus was beginning reforms to turn the republic back into an empire, one under his sole and uncontested control. Because of his popularity, this was almost completely unopposed and eventually succeeded, though was short lived when the end war finally arrived. Out of all the continents in the brief and short struggle, Aestatia, though ultimately futile, put up the most stubborn resistance to the invaders.

Physical Description

Aestatians are widespread, and of stocky sort. They are said to be broad shouldered and strong like the rest of their creed, though difficult to pinpoint. Due to their broad expansion in the realm, they can be seen in all shapes, colors, and origins. Most of the people are common laborers, leaving their hands calloused, and their faces inlaid with dirt. The more noble sort ensure they bathe and leave their skin clean and pure, whilst wearing frivolous perfume.

The traditional Aestatian is most commonly adorned in robes, with the nobles wearing robes laced with thread made of gold. The more clean these robes are, the more likely the person is of a higher status, with the colors purple, red, gold, and white held in the highest of regards, with the peasantry wearing mostly brown or a light tan. Sandals would be a common footwear amongst the people as well, showing well manicured feet if noble. More modern Aestatians are seen in the fashion of the age, though will wear just as high and defining clothing if in a position of wealth.

• Common Height:
  • Male: 6'1" - 6'7"
  • Female: 5'5"-6'1"
• Common Build: Ectomorph, Mesomorph, Endomorph
• Common Eyes: Blue, Green, Brown, Black, Gold, Grey, Hazel
• Common Hair: Brown, Blonde, Black, Ginger
• Common Skin Tone: Full Human Spectrum, Mainly Peachy

Culture

The word "Aestatian" is derived from the old province of Aestatia, which in turn received its name from the legendary heroine Aestas. The founding myth of Aestatia tells of a homeless nomadic people saved from annihilation by a gift from the heavens. When the star, Aestas, fell to earth, she took the form of a motherly patron and rose from the depths a land the wayward people could call their own. For one hundred years she doted over the fledgling civilization before vanishing on the city's centennial.

The Aestatian people prided themselves mainly on law and order, and thus their pantheon mostly reflects this. The clergy is widespread, and followed all of the lost gods in equal measure, though does place some favoritism to the gods Veltes and Vassas, whom they see as keepers of law and history, and important to the natural order of things within their ever-expanding Empire.

Aestatian art primarily took an oral form, typically through poetry or plays. It is from these tutors and their surroundings they would glean the knowledge of the Aestatian language, which would be commonly spoken over other tongues in their land.

All able-bodied men were to perform five years of military service. It is through doing so that a boy earned his manhood and demonstrates to colleagues and family his capability. In the military, a young man would also make key alliances and friendships that will help a future in the government. Following their retirement from the army, men may occupy a range of offices. The most common route for the ambitious is that Ladder of Rule, wherein a person attempts to have themselves elected to increasingly prestigious offices of governance. The final two 'rungs' are senator and speaker. To achieve both of these in one's lifetime is viewed as a significant show of intelligence and personality.

Mechanics

• Lifespan: 75-90 years old on average.
• Aestatians are can accumulate muscle mass easiest of all the Human sub-races, having the largest growth potential.
• Aestatians are adaptable, able to fit within most environments with ease.
• Aestatians are the way finders, most capable of navigating the seas and otherwise travelling.
• The Aestatian people are large and bulky with an extremely minor gray pigment, and their skin naturally resists slashing damage in all but the most brutal of swings that could cleave a man in two.

The Realm of Ephimoria • Beyond the Fracture