Esfiria

While Teria is the first place where civilisations started rising in the ancient times of Shadre, it is to the north where the first true empire was founded.

The Esfirian Empire.

This hegemonic empire was ruled by several draconic dynasties across a span of more than a thousand years. It controlled a portion of territory from Vistarion to Epherion and Caldavon, as well as Caradir, a huge island located in the Esfirian sea.

The Esfirian empire was an illustrious beacon of prosperity and high equality, at least for a time. The draconic dynasties and noble houses were fair rulers that believed in the philosophy of “good work” – pride in craftsmanship and in the execution of construction or artisanal efforts. Above all else, dragons valued perfectionism in the work that they did, and during the age of the Esfirian Empire, in the work that was done for them. 

To possess wealth and power was one thing, but to display that wealth and power to others required technique and skill in planning and execution. Artisans and other individuals who became extremely specialised in specific forms of work, creation, and execution became valued and contested over by members of the ruling class. For the majority of individuals, one’s worth was determined by the quality of their work. In the age of prosperity, the Esfirian Empire flourished. Its citizens were well-educated, it did not face any formidable enemies, and the economy skyrocketed. The Esfirians consolidated their power and expanded their reach by absorbing other cultures and factions as their borders grew. No one could contest the efficiency and advancement of Esfirian society. 

Decade after decade, the Esfirian welcomed new tribes, clans, dutchies and even kingdoms, as joining their growing empire was the best way to avoid war and violence against rivals. The Esfirians were simply too advanced and powerful in those times, and many of those factions that decided not to join them at first eventually changed their mind.

Centuries of unprecedented peace, prosperity and cooperation between different morphs erased (slowly but surely) most differences between social strata and genders. The Esfirians evolved into an even more open-minded and advanced society where everyone was equal and often had the same opportunities, and one could uplift themselves through refining their skills. The hypocritical nature of this, where emperors, empresses, and noble houses were afforded power in a de facto manner, was best ignored – after all, nobles employed the laypeople.

But peace would not last forever.

At its highest peak, the Esfirian Empire’s dominion (under the control of the Etherian dynasty) spanned from the very north of the Terian continent to the Interian sea. Year by year, this increased tensions with a southern super-power, the Aeldir Empire – a highly religious faction with very different values to those of the Esfirians, and experts in the art of war.

Eventually, and after a series of incidents, the Aeldir Empire (led by gryphons) declared war on the Esfirians (led by dragons). This marked the beginning of the most brutal and longest ancient war in Shadreic history.

The Esfirians had better technology and excellent elite forces – but far fewer numbers than their Aeldiran counterparts. Esfirians, used to prosperity and their foes rolling over onto their backs to join their glorious empire, were reluctant to levy their population to fight in the war. Who would they recruit, anyway? Sculptors and artists could depict war and battle in glorious detail, but did not know how to swing a sword. 

The Esfirians fumbled at the front line and were pushed back until they eventually lost most of their territories. They retreated north to their homeland and the northern Terian peninsula.

Many Esfirian citizens were displaced by the war, which led to the discovery of the northern continent and to the massive colonisation of modern countries such as Ursikan, Fenrisia, Garidia, Yrvala, Isidia and Albanir.

After claiming much land, attrition wore down the Aeldiran forces, and the war eventually ended in a stalemate wherein the Aeldirans could extend themselves no further, but the Esfirians could not mount any functional offensive strike. As years passed, the Aeldiran empire was crumbling at home with internal conflict. 

The war ended in a (mostly) white peace. Only some conquered territories were annexed from Esfiria. Fittingly, the huge Terian central mountain range made sense as a geographical line to separate the empires and have peace.

As time passed, the Aeldir empire succumbed to its internal pressure and collapsed despite their victory, fragmenting the empire into many small countries.

The Esfirian Empire evolved into a modern country without a nepotistic form of government. Efforts to rebuild were long and arduous, and the exodus of many members of the Esfirian population to the north contributed to this. Beautiful buildings, sculpted statues, and ornate fountains were ruined during the war. Yet many artisans had skillsets that translated to construction, and economists and planners knew how to rebuild cities even better than they had ever been. In remaking their empire, the Esfirians came together. Their territories did not fragment, unlike the Aeldirans. 

Today, Esfiria is a super-power. However, and because of its historically peaceful nature, Esfiria has fallen somewhat short when it comes to military expenditure. Their army is still one of the strongest of Shadre, but everyone knows it could be the second greatest military force if the country truly wanted to be. 

The economy is strong and booming, salaries are high, quality of life is ranked highly in the world, and its citizens benefit from a high level of social equality and diversity. Its people learnt long ago to embrace each other and work together, even if a few hands were forced here and there. 

Their citizens are amongst the freest and happiest in the world and they hold the strongest passport. The country is regarded as having clean and modern cities, described by tourists as beautiful and dream-like, with huge plains, hilly terrain, dense forests, regions with immense flower beds and a multitude of lakes and islands. 

Esfirians are usually seen as perverse, kinky and selfish individuals, but also as intelligent, open-minded and loyal people.