The Vaelorian Ascendancy

The Vaelorian Ascendancy was a once-mighty empire of necromancers that rose to its peak some 5,000 years ago, controlling the whole continent of Thalwyn for thousands of years. After centuries of decline, it finally met its demise approximately 2,000 years ago, with the arrival of the barbarian tribes that would later create the Alderworth Kingdom. Now, only Ker Nethalas, the Midnight Throne, remains—a vast necropolis beneath the city of Veldonia, filled with crypts, catacombs, and forgotten chambers.

Not much is known about this ancient civilization, due to the danger involved in obtaining any type of relic or knowledge about them, something that implies delving into the depths of Ker Nethalas. Although it is said that other minor settlements survived the cataclysm that ended the Vaelorian Ascendancy, these ruins are also extremely dangerous places to explore and few are willing to do so. What is known, though, is that necromancy in the Ascendancy was deeply tied to their religious beliefs, especially the worship of Kalatha, the Vaelorian goddess of death. Their society was built on a foundation where faith and the manipulation of death were one. They were also renowned for their alchemy, developing many procedures and systems still used nowadays in the Alderworth Kingdom and beyond. But their ambition and greed, driven by arcane secrets, corrupted the city's elite, slowly isolating the different factions and even powerful individuals, until there was no semblance of trust left between any members of their senate. This often led to the rise of emperors, such as Aurelius the Undying, or Cassia the Red, that were often dethroned before they were even able to establish a real dynasty.

A prime example of this constant distrust and turbulent history is the story of House Ganeus. Once esteemed members of the Vaelorian Ascendancy, their name quickly became synonymous with betrayal and ambition gone awry. According to The Ganeus Rebellion, one of the few tomes chronicling the events that have survived to this day, the members of House Ganeus secretly forged forbidden pacts with entities beyond the mortal realm. These dark alliances granted them formidable power, which they used to challenge the very empire they once served, at the time under the rule of Emperor Tarsseus the Second. The rebellion they ignited was a whirlwind of deceit and treachery. Under the cloak of night, the Ganeus family orchestrated a series of covert operations, striking at the heart of the Ascendancy. Their insurrection was marked by ruthless betrayals, with former allies turning against each other in the chaos. This period of upheaval, known as the Ganeus Rebellion, shattered the once unassailable image of the empire, and is often considered a pivotal moment in their history, since it showed their enemies that the almighty Ascendancy wasn’t as untouchable as it seemed.

Despite all this and their dark history, the Vaelorian Ascendancy is still considered by many as the peak of human civilization, and there are plenty of kingdoms that have modelled themselves after this ancient empire.