The World of Banner and Pyre
Where faith and fire are the weapons of empireThe Twilight of Holy Imperia
“In the twilight of Holy Imperia’s dominion, where faith and fire are the weapons of empire, the conquered provinces of Celestia simmer with rebellion. The great war ended forty years ago, but the embers of resistance have never truly died.”The current era is one of uneasy peace maintained through military presence and religious authority. From the marble towers of Imperia Der Zhiin—the imperial capital where the throne of The One sits in resplendent glory—the empire extends its reach across conquered lands, enforcing divine law through both scripture and sword.
You enter this world as a newly commissioned officer, bearing the weight of mixed heritage and divided loyalties. Trained at the Academy of Military Sciences, you are sent to the restless provinces to bring order to a land that refuses to kneel. But in a world where duty demands obedience and conscience demands defiance, whose banner will you truly serve?Factions and Powers
⚜️ Holy Imperia
The dominant theocratic empire that rules through divine mandate. Holy Imperia believes in the absolute authority of The One, the supreme deity whose will is interpreted by the Church and enforced by military might.
Key Characteristics:
- Capital: Imperia Der Zhiin, a city of marble towers and divine power
- Military: The Academy of Military Sciences trains elite officers
- Religion: Absolute devotion to The One, enforced by the Inquisition
- Philosophy: Order through faith, control through divine purpose
The Church of The One
The religious institution that serves as the spiritual and ideological backbone of Holy Imperia. The Church interprets the will of The One and maintains theological control over the empire through a network of temples, inquisitors, and devoted clergy.
Key Characteristics:
- The One: Supreme deity whose divine power shapes nations
- Inquisitors: Enforcers of religious law and imperial doctrine
- Temples: Sacred sites throughout the empire, centers of worship
- Doctrine: “Your life is not your own, but on loan from The One”
🗡️ The Celestian Remnant
Once an independent nation, Celestia fell to Holy Imperia forty years ago in a devastating conquest. Though officially integrated into the empire, the Celestian provinces remain restless, and the spirit of resistance burns bright among those who remember sovereignty.
Key Characteristics:
- Status: Conquered provinces under imperial occupation
- Resistance: Active insurrections against Imperian rule
- Cities: Suntra, Lydia, Eindora, and other strategic locations
- Legacy: A land that refuses to forget its freedom
⚖️ The Divided Loyalties
As a character of mixed blood—Imperian by birthright, Celestian by heritage—you embody the conflict that defines this era. Your very existence is a bridge between conqueror and conquered, a living testament to a war that officially ended but never truly resolved.
Trained at the prestigious Academy of Military Sciences in Strategic Intelligence Management, you are expected to serve the empire without question. Yet the blood of Celestia runs through your veins, and the faces of those you’re ordered to suppress might mirror your own.
Where will your banner stand when the fires of insurrection burn brightest?The Land and Its People
Notable Locations
- Imperia Der Zhiin: The imperial capital, heart of The One’s power
- Suntra: A prosperous Celestian merchant city with golden domes
- Lydia: A bustling harbor where traders from distant lands gather
- Thronehold: An ancient fortress bearing the scars of countless sieges
- Chronos Citadel: Mysterious ruins from a forgotten age
- Eye of Isilic: A tower whose purpose is known only to The One’s servants
The Academy of Military Sciences
The empire’s premier military institution where future officers are forged. The Academy trains leaders in various disciplines including Strategic Intelligence Management, Supply & Logistics, and Tactical Command. Graduates are expected to serve The One with unwavering devotion, their lives measured not by personal desire but by use to the empire.
The Question of Free Will
“You will command men, women, and those who still believe themselves free. You will weigh compassion against duty, faith against reason, and you will find both wanting. You will learn the cost of command—the price of mercy, the vanity of rebellion.”— Pyotor Kyrandomath, Imperian InquisitorA World Without Easy Answers
Banner and Pyre presents a morally complex world where traditional heroism is complicated by political reality. The empire you serve brought peace after the chaos of the Hobgoblin Wars, but that peace was built on conquest and maintained through occupation.
The rebels you’re ordered to suppress fight for freedom, but their methods often harm innocent civilians. The Church preaches divine love, but enforces it through fear and violence. Your commanders speak of duty and honor, yet you witness the atrocities committed in The One’s name.
Every choice matters. Every action has consequences.Will you stand as the Empire’s unwavering sword, bringing order through force? Will you turn against the machine that forged you, knowing the cost of rebellion? Or will you walk a path between—seeking a third way in a world that demands you choose a banner?