Draklin Empire

History
According to Draklin legend, the great city-state of Bhaile arose during the Age of Myths to become the dominant power of the Abhainn valley. For centuries, the war chariots of Bhaile defeated every foe that rose to challenge the preeminence of the city, until all of the other city-states paid tribute. As the ambitions of the rulers of Bhaile grew, so too did their demands. Numerous rebellions against their oppression broke out, and several cities were put to the sword and erased from the map as a result. Eventually, all of the other great city-states banded together to oppose Bhaile, and at first they seemed poised to win. However at the last minute, the High King of Bhaile Olc Mór, forged an alliance with dark powers and began to drive the rebel forces back. League by league, the terrible armies of Olc Mór and his new allies slew everyone who stood against them, until only the forces of mighty Aille remained, cowering behind the city's great walls. Their doom seemed certain as the siege began, and even the cold rains of winter provided no respite from their dire situation. In desperation, King Fuascailteoir sought help from the mysterious Maba people of the east coast, one time trading partners of the ancient city. For weeks, no response was received, and despair overtook the city as the great siege engines of Bhaile finally began to eat away at the vast walls. Before the besiegers could breach those walls, however, a host of the Maba poured out of the east, and swept away the Bhailech army of men and fiends. Days later, they attacked Bhaile itself and left only rubble and burnt corpses. The Maba left without looting or seeking recompense, seemingly satisfied to have ended Bhaile's evil alliance.

Gathering together the remaining people of the Abhainn valley, Fuascailteoir created Gach Duine, which is claimed to be the first true multi-city nation. Over centuries, the region saw the rise and fall of many nations and would-be empires, before the rise of the En Iola Dubh (Empire of the Black Eagle). Under the distinctive two-headed eagle banners of the Empire, the lands of central Zerith were united into a single state, ruled from the Imperial capital city of Mórionad. For more than 20,000 years, the empire dominated most of the continent, until the devastation of the Great Sárú tore the very earth asunder and killed virtually every citizen of the sprawling state. In the chaos that followed, huge numbers of former slaves, especially the always fractious Bedewe people, rose up against what remained of the Imperial administration and shattered any hope of restoring order. The sands of the Eastern Desert grew until most of the cities vanished beneath the orange-yellow tide.