Locations:
Greater geography and history-
The Empire of Zahar - One of the largest realms among the south of the Beautiful Lands, it stretches from the Gravestone mountains in the north, to the Brightwater coast in the south. From the jungles of Angh in the east, to the Dream Isles in the West. Born on the back of the ruins of ancient civilizations lost to the age of legend it is currently ruled by the Zaharian Emperors from the capitol of Zahren.
Founded by a unified people with a sense of divine right to rule, the empire spread quickly across the continent, absorbing smaller realms, tribes and kingdoms as it moved, a few by diplomacy, but most by military force.
This expansion however has slowed over time. As the empire grew and grew, creaking under its own weight and becoming more and more unwieldy, requiring more and more resources to maintain and expand, the emperors were forced to find such resources wherever they could. During the Empire's war with the Mage Clans to the north, the emperor Klavin the third found himself without the means to pay his armies and continue the fight.
Desperate to carry on and claim the glory that would secure his place in imperial history, he was approached by the Merchant Prince of Port Azure, offering a way to do just that. The Prince would present the Emperor with a great amount of coin, collected from the merchants and nobles of the city, and in return the Emperor would allow the Prince and his people to purchase the island of Halra, directly off the southwestern coast of the empire. A deal was finally struck and a treaty was signed.
Some say the emperor never intended to uphold the agreement, reckoning that he would quickly be able retake the city and its impudent merchants. Unfortunately for him, the war in the north continued to grind on and on, the mages resisting every attempt to cross the Gravestones. When the conflict was finally abandoned, Port Azure had managed to secure lucrative trade treaties and alliances with several other lands and kingdoms ensuring that trying to retake the island would only lead to an even more costly war, and the city remained free.
Though outwardly civilized towards Port Azure and its people, the city is still seen by most Zaharians as a blemish on the Empire's history as well as pride, and the Guild Council have little doubt that should the empire see an opportunity to reassert themselves, then Port Azure would once again fall under the rule of the Emperors.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:09, Sun 03 Apr 2022.