The Imperial House and The Great Ducal Houses - The Pillars of Arkanus, The Capital Aethelgard and The Imperial Military
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The Imperial House stands supreme above all others, with the twenty Great Ducal Houses forming the backbone of the empire's nobility beneath them. Each house wields unique magical arts, martial traditions, and political influence that have been refined over millennia. Organized into four distinct pillars of power, these houses have shaped the empire's destiny for countless centuries, their bloodlines intertwined with the very fabric of the realm's magical essence.
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(The Innermost Pillar) **Imperial House of The Draconis**
**House Cornwall-Elms-Arkanus**
*The Imperial House of Emperor Janus Cornwall I*
**Full Title**
The Grand Protector and Sovereign Guardian of the Elms-Arkanus Empire, the Last Son of Arcanus, The Last True Dragon Rider, The Half-Deity King
**Specialty**
Divine Draconic Magic, God Magic & Imperial Authority
**Sigil**
The crowned Dragon Prince Chronusfyre Solumbra with his wings spread over a Golden Elm Tree and Crossed Arcane Staves and Emperor Janus's sword Intertwined at its center.
**Notable Abilities**:
- True dragon transformation (manifesting as black, red, and golden dragon aspects through fusion with his Guardian Beast Chronusfyre Solumbra)
- Divine mandate (his commands carry supernatural compulsion that cannot be resisted by mortal will)
- Dragon speech (can command and communicate with any draconic creature, from the mightiest ancient wyrm to the smallest drake)
- Immortal longevity (ages at a rate of one year for every century that passes)
- Arcane mastery (possesses access to all known schools of magic and several that remain secret to the Imperial bloodline)
- Weather control extending across continental scales
- Ability to grant or revoke noble titles with lasting magical effects that alter the very souls of the recipients.
**Elite Royal Imperial Forces and Specialized Units**:
- The Dragonguard:
The Elite Imperial Royal Knights who have sworn soul-binding oaths to the Emperor, their very essence tied to his divine nature (also known as the Elite Imperial Royal Guards, 100,000 strong).
- The Emperor's Dragoon Company:
A highly specialized group that consists of wyvern riders and their Wyverns soaring above the battlefields (numbering just 2,500 wyvern riders, including the Emperor, they represent an unparalleled specialized aerial force.)
- The Golden Wing Elite Unit:
A flight of True Dragons who serve the Imperial House directly, surviving descendants of those who served Emperor Arkanus (only 10 remaining, separate from the Dragoon Force that compromises of Wyverns)
- The Arcane Inquisitors:
Mage-investigators who ensure that the magical laws of the Empire are upheld throughout the realm and root out forbidden practices that endangers the Empire. (They number only 2,100 strong)
- The Elm Wardens:
Guardians of the sacred groves throughout the empire, protectors of the mystical trees that channel the realm's power (A separate Elite Military Force under the House of Elms, not part of the Imperial Regular or Elite Army, one million strong)
**Imperial Prerogatives**:
- Can overrule any decision made by the Ducal Houses, with his word becoming natural law.
- Grants magical licenses and controls access to the most powerful and dangerous spells.
- Serves as final arbiter in disputes between Great Houses, his judgment binding on pain of magical enforcement.
- Commands the absolute loyalty of all draconic creatures within the empire's borders (except for those in the Mountains of the Great Caldera of Arkanus).
- Maintains the Great Wards that protect the empire's borders from supernatural threats.
- Commands the millions of military personnel that serve the Empire across all branches and specializations.
- His word is the law and the will of the Imperium itself.
The Imperial House stands alone at the apex of power, wielding not only divine blood from the High Heavens from His Imperial Majesty's maternal lineage. But also the authority granted by an ancient blood pact, with the Dragon King Ignis Auralith Aetherion the Skyforged King, Wielder of the Primordial Fire and Celestial Lightning, that was forged in the time of his grandfather, the late Emperor Arkanus the Wise.
Emperor Janus Cornwall possesses both the blood of a god and the essence of true draconic heritage, granting him abilities that transcend mortal magic and touch the very foundations of creation itself.
The Emperor's unique nature manifests in his ability to partially transform into a magnificent dragon—a fusion of both his Guardian Beast Chronusfyre Solumbra and his own divine essence. In this form, he can command all lesser dragons with but a thought, and his word carries the weight of divine law that resonates through the magical weave of reality. The Imperial bloodline traces its ancestry directly to the First Dragon Rider Emperor, his grandfather Emperor Arkanus, who united the three sub-continents of Arkanus in an age lost to common memory but preserved in the sacred chronicles of the realm through the House of Elm the remaining noble lineage of the past.
The Emperor's tri-fold nature—mortal, draconic, and divine—manifests in several extraordinary ways that mark him as truly beyond ordinary nobility. His eyes can shift from a celestial, cerulean blue to reptilian gold and crimson red when channeling power to pierce through deception and illusion, revealing truth in all its forms. He possesses an otherworldly longevity that allows him to rule for millennia, accumulating wisdom, experience and martial prowess that no mortal could hope to match. His mere presence can quell magical storms that rage across continents or inspire unshakeable loyalty in even the proudest and most independent nobles.
The Imperial Palace, also known as the Golden Crystal Spire of Eternity—formally titled the Regalia Imperion, of the Crown hold Aethelguard—is built around a massive living tree whose golden leaves never fall, never wither, and shimmer with internal light. This is the Great Elm of Arkanus, from which the House of Elms had continuously protected and nurtured under their care even after the great persecution of their people and is is the only remaining legacy of the ancient Imperial House of Arkanus that derived their power, prestige and authority all throughout the land, forming the foundation of the current Empire of Elms-Arkanus that bears their combined legacy.
As the Dragon Representative in the mortal realm, the Emperor serves not merely as a temporal ruler but as the living bridge between the material world and the divine dragon courts that hold eternal sessions in their celestial throne at the heart of Arkanus, within the Great Caldera of Arkanus. The ancient treaties with the Ancient Celestial Dragons, negotiated by his grandfather Emperor Arkanus, have granted him the sacred right to call upon their aid in times of catastrophic need, making the Empire virtually unconquerable by any external force known to exist.
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The Inner Pillars
**The Four Archduchies**
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**House Panthera**
-The House of Archduke Primos, the Shadow "Panthera"-
**Specialty**:
Shadow Magic & Espionage
**Sigil**:
A black panther silhouetted against the three crescent moons, its eyes gleaming with starlight.
**Notable Abilities**:
Shadow-walking through dimensions, mind reading and mental manipulation, perfect stealth that renders them invisible even to magical detection, nightmare magic that can drive enemies to madness.
**Military Force**:
The Umbral Guard—elite assassins who can strike without warning from any shadow, leaving no trace of their presence (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of the House Panthera).
The most secretive and mysterious of all houses, Panthera commands an extensive network of spies, assassins, and shadow mages that spans not only the Empire but extends into foreign realms. Their members possess the extraordinary ability to manipulate darkness itself, becoming one with shadows and traveling through the Shadow Realm—a parallel dimension of eternal twilight that overlays the material world. They serve as the realm's primary intelligence service, gathering secrets from foreign courts, monitoring internal threats, and ensuring that no conspiracy can take root without the Emperor's knowledge.
Their ancestral seat, the Obsidian Citadel, exists in a state of constant mystical flux, appearing different to each visitor as powerful illusion magic continuously shifts its appearance. Some see a fortress of black glass reaching toward the stars, while others perceive a series of interconnected caves that burrow deep into the earth. The truth is that the citadel exists simultaneously in multiple forms, a testament to the house's mastery over perception and reality.
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**House Raptoria**
-The House of Archduke Rex, the Adamantium Talon "Raptoria-
**Specialty**:
Aerial Combat & Metalworking Magic
**Sigil**:
A golden imperial eagle with spread wings, clutching adamantium talons that gleam like polished silver.
**Notable Abilities**:
Mystical bonding with birds of prey, metal transmutation and metallurgy magic, personal flight and aerial maneuvering, weapon enchantment that can imbue arms and armor with elemental properties.
**Military Force**:
The Skyward Legion—aerial hybrid lance and archer cavalry, mounted on the backs of their bonded giant eagles whose talons and beaks are sheathed in enchanted adamantium (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of the House Raptoria).
Masters of both sky and forge, House Raptoria breeds and commands the greatest eagles and birds of prey in the known world while simultaneously crafting the finest magical weapons and armor in existence. Their mages possess the rare ability to transmute base metals into adamantium—the hardest known substance—and can enchant weapons with devastating magical properties that can cleave through any defense. They control the inner realm's aerial defenses and serve as the imperial armorer, ensuring that the Empire's forces are equipped with superior gear.
Their mountain fortress, the Aerie of Stars, is built into the highest peaks of the realm and is accessible only by flight. The very stones of the fortress are shot through with veins of precious metals, and the forges burn with flames that never die, tended by master smiths whose skills have been passed down through generations of aerial warriors.
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**House Viperion**
-The House of Archduchess Anna, the Venomfang "Viperion"-
**Specialty**:
Alchemy & Poison Magic
**Sigil**:
A coiled serpent with emerald eyes and fangs dripping with iridescent venom.
**Notable Abilities**:
Complete immunity to all known poisons and diseases, master-level potion brewing that can create elixirs with miraculous effects, healing magic that can restore life to the recently deceased, venom generation that can be controlled and modified at will.
**Military Force**:
The Coil Guard—warriors whose weapons are perpetually coated with ever-changing toxins that adapt to overcome any resistance (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Viperion).
The realm's master alchemists and healers, House Viperion walks the delicate balance between cure and poison, life and death. They possess knowledge that allows them to brew potions granting temporary immortality or concoct toxins so lethal that a single drop can fell a lesser dragon. Their extensive understanding of herbs, minerals, magical reagents, and the complex interactions between biological systems makes them invaluable in both times of war and peace. They also serve as the realm's premier medical practitioners, capable of curing diseases that other healers consider utterly incurable.
The house's ancestral laboratories are marvels of alchemical engineering, featuring distillation chambers that can process materials at temperatures that would melt stone, and preservation vaults where ingredients remain fresh for centuries. Their gardens cultivate plants found nowhere else in the world, many of which exist in a state between life and death, sustained by the house's unique magical practices.
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**House Wolffang**
-The House of Archduke Ritter, the Howling "Wolffang"-
**Specialty**:
Pack Warfare & Lycanthropic Magic
**Sigil**:
A howling wolf beneath the three blood moons, surrounded by spectral pack members.
**Notable Abilities**:
Shapeshifting between human and wolf forms with enhanced hybrid states, supernatural senses that can track quarry across continents, pack telepathy that allows coordinated attacks, moon magic that waxes and wanes with lunar cycles.
**Military Force**:
The Howling Company—lycanthropic warriors who fight seamlessly as both human soldiers and wolf packs, switching between forms mid-battle (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Wolffang).
Fierce warriors who have embraced the primal call of the wild hunt, House Wolffang maintains an ancient pact with wolf spirits that grants them lycanthropic abilities far beyond mere shapeshifting. They excel in pack tactics and guerrilla warfare, moving through forests and wilderness with supernatural grace and coordination. Their members can communicate across vast distances through magical howls that carry on winds both natural and supernatural. During the full moon, their power increases dramatically, and they become nearly unstoppable forces of nature.
They serve as the realm's premier hunters of supernatural threats and guardians of the wild borderlands, maintaining the balance between civilization and the untamed wilderness. Their connection to primal magic makes them especially effective against otherworldly creatures that threaten the realm's stability.
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The Middle Pillars
**The Eight Grand Duchies**
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**House Bloodhawke**
-The House of Grand Duke Kaelnore, the Crimson Talon "Bloodhawke"-
**Specialty**:
Blood Magic & Aerial Reconnaissance
**Sigil**:
A red hawk with outstretched wings, droplets of crimson falling like rain from its feathers
**Notable Abilities**:
Blood scrying that reveals the location and condition of any target, enhanced healing that can mend bones and close wounds in minutes, hawk telepathy spanning continental distances, battle fury that increases strength and speed exponentially.
**Military Force**:
The Crimson Wing—mounted archers with supernatural accuracy who never miss their intended targets (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Bloodhawke).
Elite scouts and blood mages of unparalleled skill, House Bloodhawke can track enemies across entire continents using nothing more than a single drop of spilled blood. Their crimson hawks serve as supernatural messengers and spies, capable of seeing through their bonded birds' eyes from distances spanning hundreds of miles. They practice blood magic for divination, accelerated healing, and battle enhancement, though they maintain strict prohibitions against necromancy and other dark arts that would corrupt their noble purpose.
The house's mastery extends to understanding the life force that flows through all living beings, allowing them to heal grievous wounds by redirecting vital energy and to enter battle trances that make them nearly invincible warriors.
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**House Komodra**
-The House of Grand Duchess Maria, the Primal Maw "Komodra"-
**Specialty**:
Draconic Magic & Ancient Lore
**Sigil**:
A massive komodo dragon with glowing amber eyes and scales that shimmer with ancient power.
**Notable Abilities**:
Dragon speech allows communication with all draconic beings, elemental breath weapons that can be switched between fire, ice, lightning, and acid, natural armor that becomes stronger with age, extended lifespan measured in centuries rather than decades.
**Military Force**:
The Scale Guard—warriors bonded with drake companions who fight alongside them as trusted partners (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Komodra)
Keepers of draconic wisdom and guardians of ancient knowledge, House Komodra has maintained treaties and alliances with lesser dragons for countless millennia. Through their draconic heritage, they can breathe elemental attacks, possess natural armor-like scales that deflect weapons, and their extended longevity allows them to accumulate vast stores of knowledge and wisdom. They serve as the realm's foremost historians and guardians of ancient magical artifacts whose powers are too dangerous for lesser houses to wield.
Their members often live for many centuries, growing progressively more powerful with age as they accumulate magical energy and refine their understanding of draconic arts. The eldest members of the house are said to rival true dragons in both power and wisdom.
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**House Whitebear**
-The House of Grand Duke Alexander, the Glacierheart "Whitebear"-
**Specialty**:
Ice Magic & Northern Defense
**Sigil**:
A massive white bear against a backdrop of ice crystals and aurora lights
**Notable Abilities**:
Cryomancy capable of flash-freezing large areas, complete immunity to cold and ice-based attacks, ice construct creation that can build fortresses in minutes, mystical bonding with polar bears and other arctic creatures.
**Military Force**:
The Frost Guard—heavily armored warriors riding armored polar bears, wielding weapons of enchanted ice that never melt (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Whitebear).
Masters of frost and ice magic, House Whitebear serves as the eternal guardians of the realm's most northern borders, protecting against arctic threats that emerge from the frozen wastelands beyond. They can summon blizzards that last for weeks, create ice fortifications that rival stone castles in durability, and their members possess complete immunity to cold that allows them to survive in conditions that would instantly kill others. Their polar bear companions serve as both trusted mounts and lifelong partners in their vigil against the north.
The house controls the vital trade routes through the frozen passes and maintains the Great Northern Ice Wall—a massive barrier of enchanted ice that stretches across the northern frontier, preventing any invasions and containing the supernatural storms that periodically rage in the arctic regions.
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**House Tigris**
-The House of Grand Duke Max, the Solitary Hunters "Tigris"-
**Specialty**:
Lone Wolf Operations & Stealth Magic
**Sigil**:
A prowling tiger with golden eyes moving through tall grass, nearly invisible in the shifting shadows.
**Notable Abilities**:
Perfect camouflage that renders them invisible even when moving, enhanced reflexes that allow them to dodge arrows and spells, survival magic that allows them to thrive in any environment, patience trance that can last for weeks without movement
**Military Force**:
The Prowling Guard—each member operates as a one-person strike force, trained to accomplish missions that would require entire companies of regular soldiers (the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army).
Elite solo operatives and hunter-assassins without peer, House Tigris specializes in missions requiring absolute discretion and independent operation. Each member undergoes training that transforms them into perfect killing machines capable of operating independently for months in any environment while completing seemingly impossible tasks. They can become completely invisible while moving and possess supernatural patience that allows them to stalk prey for weeks without being detected.
They serve as the realm's premier troubleshooters for delicate situations that require finesse rather than brute force, handling problems that must be resolved without leaving any trace of imperial involvement.
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**House Croco**
-The House of Grand Duchess Gloria, the River-Tyrant "Croco"-
**Specialty**:
Aquatic Warfare & Imperial River Control
**Sigil**:
A massive crocodile emerging from dark waters, its jaws lined with teeth like steel daggers.
**Notable Abilities**:
Water breathing and underwater combat, flood control that can reshape river systems, command over aquatic beasts and monsters, ambush tactics utilizing waterways for surprise attacks.
**Military Force**:
The River Fleet—armored vessels crewed by amphibious warriors who can fight equally well on water or land (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Croco).
Absolute controllers of the tiered grand city's realm's vast network of waterways, House Croco has special commands to all naval forces operating on the capital's rivers and controls all river traffic throughout the empire. They can breathe underwater indefinitely, summon river monsters from the depths, and their crocodilian familiars patrol every major waterway in the capital. They collect taxes from river merchants and possess the power to flood or drain entire regions at will, making them essential to both trade and agriculture.
Their fortress is built within a great river delta where dozens of waterways converge, accessible only to those who know the secret channels that change with each tide. The fortress itself can sink beneath the waters or rise above them as needed, making it nearly impossible to assault.
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**House Kodiaks**
-The House of Grand Duke Ursus, the Colossal Clawed "Kodiaks"-
**Specialty**:
Berserker Magic & Fortress Defense
**Sigil**:
A roaring brown bear standing on hind legs with massive claws, surrounded by crumbling enemy fortifications.
**Notable Abilities**:
Berserker rage that increases size and strength exponentially, size alteration that can make them as tall as giants, natural weapons that grow from their bodies during combat, fortress construction using both engineering and earth magic.
**Military Force**:
The Iron Claws—heavily armored berserkers who fight without regard for personal safety, breaking enemy lines through sheer ferocity (the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army).
Legendary defenders and berserker warriors, House Kodiaks can enter battle trances that transform them into nearly unstoppable forces of destruction. Their massive size 10 feet tall for the female and up to 12 feet tall for the male and natural strength are enhanced by bear magic, allowing them to literally tear through enemy formations with their bare hands. They design and build the realm's greatest fortifications and serve as elite shock troops whose mere presence can break enemy morale.
In their berserker rage, they can grow to giant proportions and sprout natural claws and fangs that can rend steel. Their fortifications are marvels of defensive engineering, designed to channel attackers into killing zones where the house's warriors can unleash their full fury.
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**House Spinneweb**
-The House of Grand Duchess Rosie, the Shadow Weaver "Spinneweb"-
**Specialty**:
Web Magic & Information Networks
**Sigil**:
A black widow spider in an intricate silver web that seems to move and shift when viewed directly.
**Notable Abilities**:
Web creation that can span miles and trap magical creatures, instant communication across any distance, trap magic that can ensnare minds as well as bodies, mental entanglement that confuses and disorients enemies.
**Military Force**:
The Web Wardens—warriors who fight with enchanted nets and binding magic, specializing in capture rather than killing (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Spinneweb).
Masters of information warfare and magical web creation, House Spinneweb creates mystical networks that span the entire tiered realm and even beyond. Their enchanted webs can transmit messages instantly across vast distances, trap enemies in unbreakable bonds, and gather intelligence through their web-based surveillance network. They excel at ensnaring opponents in both physical webs and mental webs of confusion and misdirection.
Their mastery extends to understanding the connections between all things, allowing them to manipulate fate and probability by plucking the right strands of the great web that connects all existence.
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**House Wyrm**
-The House of Grand Duke Ash, the Earth Shaker "Wyrm"-
**Specialty**:
Earth Magic & Underground Operations
**Sigil**:
A serpentine dragon emerging from rocky earth, its scales the color of stone and precious metals.
**Notable Abilities**:
Earth manipulation that can reshape landscapes, tunneling that leaves perfectly smooth passages, earthquake generation for both construction and warfare, mineral sense that can locate precious materials from miles away.
**Military Force**:
The Stone Serpents—warriors who fight from underground tunnel networks, emerging without warning to strike at enemies (the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army).
Absolute masters of stone, earth, and subterranean realms, House Wyrm controls the realm's extensive mining operations and maintains the vast network of underground highways that connect distant parts of the empire. They can tunnel through solid rock as easily as swimming through water, command earth elementals to do their bidding, and their members possess natural resistance to fire and poison that allows them to work in the most dangerous mines.
They maintain the realm's vast underground infrastructure and can cause earthquakes or create instant fortifications from living stone. Their knowledge of geology and mineralogy is unmatched, making them essential to the empire's economic prosperity.
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The Outermost Pillars
**The Eight Duchies**
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**House Solmane**
-The House of Duke Maximilian, the Lionheart "Solmane"-
**Specialty**:
Solar Fire Magic & Noble Leadership, Master Engineering
**Sigil**:
A golden lion with a radiant mane under a blazing sun, surrounded by geometric patterns representing architectural perfection.
**Notable Abilities**:
Solar channeling that can blind enemies and heal allies, inspiring presence that bolsters the courage of nearby allies, light healing that can cure diseases and mend wounds, undead turning that destroys creatures of darkness, Flames of the Sun that burn away corruption and evil.
**Military Force**:
The Solar Guard—knights in golden armor wielding light-infused weapons that burn with internal fire(they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Solmane).
The House of Solmane has earned renown not only for their masterful engineering but also for their courage in battle, known throughout the realm as the Lions—warriors whose elemental affinity with fire matches their courageous hearts that never waver. Even when facing certain death, they never retreat or surrender, meeting every challenge head-on with unwavering determination that inspires others to similar acts of heroism.
Their solar fire magic combines the purifying light of the sun with devastating flame, creating golden fires that burn hotter than any forge and can purify corruption wherever it is found. As master engineers, they design and construct the empire's greatest siege engines, fortifications, and architectural marvels, infusing their works with solar magic for enhanced durability and power that can withstand both time and assault.
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**House Ravencrow**
-The House of Duke Grian the Sky Eyed "Ravencrow"-
**Specialty**:
Divination, Scouting & Weather Magic
**Sigil**:
A silver raven and golden crows perched on a storm cloud with lightning crackling in their eyes and wings spread wide.
**Notable Abilities**:
Future sight that can reveal multiple possible timelines, storm summoning that can call hurricanes and tornadoes, raven telepathy that spans continental distances, weather control precise enough to water specific fields while leaving neighboring areas dry.
**Military Force**:
The Black Cloaked Storm Riders—cavalry who fight amid conjured tempests, their enemies blinded by lightning while they strike with perfect accuracy (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Ravencrow).
Prophets and weather-workers of extraordinary ability, House Ravencrow can peer through the mists of time to see possible futures and control storms with the precision of master artists. Their raven familiars serve as far-seeing scouts, gathering information from across the realm and beyond, their supernatural intelligence allowing them to understand and report on complex situations.
They predict natural disasters with uncanny accuracy, guide harvests with favorable weather patterns, and their prophecies shape royal policy and military strategy. Their members often possess pale eyes that flash with inner lightning during visions, marking them as touched by the storm spirits they serve.
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**House Vulpes**
-The House of Duchess Romina the Sly "Vulpes"-
**Specialty**:
Illusion Magic & Diplomatic Intrigue
**Sigil**:
A red fox with multiple tails weaving through autumn leaves, each tail holding a different mask.
**Notable Abilities**:
Shape-changing that can mimic any humanoid form, illusion weaving that can create false realities, charm magic that makes targets want to agree with them, enhanced cunning that allows them to see through deceptions and plots.
**Military Force**:
The Mirage Company—warriors who fight using misdirection and confusion, making enemies attack shadows while the real threats strike from unexpected angles (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Vulpes).
Masters of cunning and illusion whose reputation for cleverness is matched only by their success in diplomacy, House Vulpes excels in trade negotiations, diplomatic missions, and social manipulation that benefits the realm. They can create perfect disguises that fool even magical detection, craft convincing illusions that can hide armies or create phantom cities, and their silver tongues can persuade almost anyone to see reason.
They serve as the realm's premier ambassadors and merchants, always finding advantageous deals and peaceful solutions to conflicts that might otherwise lead to costly wars. Their mastery of illusion extends beyond mere magic to encompass a deep understanding of psychology and human nature.
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**House Aurochs**
-The House of Duke Mohg, the Raging Bull "Aurochs"-
**Specialty**:
Berserker Rage & Siege Warfare
**Sigil**:
A massive black bull with glowing red eyes and steam rising from its nostrils, charging through broken castle gates.
**Notable Abilities**:
Unstoppable charge that can break through any defense, rage immunity that prevents fear and pain, bull summoning that calls spectral creatures to aid in battle, siege breaking that can reduce fortifications to rubble.
**Military Force**:
The Mad Bull Runners—heavy cavalry mounted on armored war bulls whose charge can break the strongest enemy formations (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Auroch).
Unstoppable forces in battle, House Aurochs specializes in breaking enemy lines and conducting siege warfare with devastating effectiveness. Their berserker rage makes them completely immune to pain and fear, while their bull-like charges can shatter castle gates and fortress walls. They breed war bulls that serve as living siege engines, their horns sheathed in steel and their hide thick enough to turn aside arrows.
They can summon spectral bulls to trample enemies and their fury in battle is both legendary and infectious, spreading to allied troops and inspiring them to acts of incredible bravery. Their siege techniques are studied throughout the known world, though few can replicate their combination of engineering skill and supernatural strength.
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**House Tasmanian**
-The House of Duchess Lilibeth, the Crazed "Tasmanian"-
**Specialty**:
Chaos Magic & Unpredictable Warfare
**Sigil**:
A whirling Tasmanian devil surrounded by swirling magical chaos, reality bending around its spinning form.
**Notable Abilities**:
Probability manipulation that can make unlikely events occur regularly, chaos magic that produces unpredictable but always beneficial effects, whirlwind attacks that can strike multiple enemies simultaneously, unpredictability that makes their actions impossible to counter.
**Military Force**:
The Wild Mystical Hunters—warriors whose random tactics confuse and overwhelm enemies who cannot predict their movements or strategies (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Tasmanian).
Unpredictable masters of chaos magic whose seemingly mad tactics often lead to impossible victories against overwhelming odds, House Tasmanian possesses a deep understanding of probability and chance that appears as madness to outsiders. They can bend probability to their favor, cause random magical effects that confuse enemies, and their spinning attacks create whirlwinds of destruction that leave opponents dizzy and disoriented.
What appears as madness to conventional military minds is actually a sophisticated understanding of chaos theory applied to both magic and warfare, allowing them to find victory where others see only certain defeat.
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**House Wolverine**
-The House of Duke Brutus, the Iron Willed Wolverine-
**Specialty**:
Defensive Magic & Unbreakable Resolve
**Sigil**:
A snarling wolverine with iron claws against a steel background, standing atop a pile of broken enemy weapons.
**Notable Abilities**:
Damage absorption that converts injuries into increased strength and speed, mental immunity that protects against all forms of magical influence, iron will that cannot be broken by any force, defensive magic that can create impenetrable barriers.
**Military Force**:
The Iron-Willed Heavy Infantry—heavily armored defenders who never break formation and never retreat, no matter the odds (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Wolverine).
Renowned throughout the realm for their unbreakable will and defensive prowess that has never failed, House Wolverine never retreats and never surrenders, no matter how dire the circumstances. They possess the extraordinary ability to absorb damage and convert it into strength, becoming progressively more dangerous as battles progress and they accumulate injuries that would fell other warriors.
Their iron discipline makes them completely immune to mental magic and fear effects, and they serve as the realm's ultimate last line of defense in situations where retreat is not an option. Their mere presence on a battlefield reassures allies and strikes fear into enemies who know that these warriors will fight to the death.
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**House Harpia**
-The House of Duchess Celeste, the StormBreaker "Harpia" -
**Specialty**:
Storm Magic & Aerial Assault
**Sigil**:
A majestic harpy eagle with wings spread amid lightning bolts, riding upon storm clouds.
**Notable Abilities**:
Hurricane summoning that can create storms lasting for weeks, flight magic that allows them to soar without wings, wind riding that can carry them across continents in hours, storm dancing that controls weather through ritualistic movements.
**Military Force**:
The Storm Winged Riders—aerial units that attack from within conjured tempests, their enemies unable to see or coordinate while they strike with perfect precision (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Harpia).
Masters of storm and sky whose power over weather rivals that of the gods themselves, House Harpia can summon hurricanes that reshape coastlines and ride the winds with supernatural grace. Their eagle companions are among the largest and most intelligent birds in the realm, capable of independent thought and tactical planning during aerial combat.
They serve as the realm's weather watchers and can break enemy sieges by summoning devastating storms that scatter armies and flood fortifications. Their aerial dances can change weather patterns across entire regions, bringing rain to drought-stricken areas or clearing storms that threaten important ceremonies.
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**House Equus**
-The House of Duke Sterling, the Gallant "Equus"-
**Specialty**:
Cavalry Magic & Speed Enhancement
**Sigil**:
A rearing white stallion with a flowing silver mane, hooves trailing starlight as it gallops across the sky.
**Notable Abilities**:
Super speed that can make them move faster than arrows, mystical horse bonding that creates telepathic links with their mounts, terrain adaptation that allows their horses to run across water or up vertical surfaces, cavalry tactics that can break any enemy formation.
**Military Force**:
The Heavy Cavalry Silver Stallions—the fastest heavy cavalry in the known world, capable of appearing anywhere on the battlefield with devastating surprise attacks (they are also considered as the 100,000 strong Regular Elite Imperial Army of House Equus).
Unmatched masters of horsemanship and speed magic whose reputation for swift action is legendary throughout the realm, House Equus breeds the finest horses in existence and can enhance their speed to supernatural levels that allow them to outrun the wind itself. Their cavalry charges are the stuff of legend, and they can ride across any terrain at incredible speeds that make them appear as blurs to enemy observers.
They serve as the realm's mounted messengers and rapid response force, able to cross the entire kingdom in days rather than weeks, carrying urgent communications and reinforcements wherever they are needed most urgently.
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The Imperial Hierarchy and Balance or Power
The four pillars represent carefully balanced levels of political influence and magical power within the Elms-Arkanus Empire, each serving essential functions in the complex machinery of imperial governance:
**Innermost Pillar**:
Emperor Janus Cornwall I rules with both divine and draconic authority, serving as the absolute sovereign and spiritual leader whose word becomes law throughout the realm.
**Inner Pillar**:
The four Archdukes advise the Emperor directly and control the empire's most critical functions, serving as his trusted lieutenants in all matters of state.
**Middle Pillar**:
The Eight Grand Dukes manage the industrial affairs, house the elite troops for training and specialized services throughout the empire's vast territories, ensuring imperial will is enforced at the imperial capital.
- **Outermost Pillar**:
The Eight Dukes handle local governance and provide specialized military support to their regions, serving as the foundation upon which imperial power rests.
Each house's animal totem reflects not only their unique magical abilities but their designated role in the greater ecosystem of the empire's power structure. The Emperor's Guardian Beast Dragon represents divine authority over all other totems, while the Great Houses serve as the pillars supporting the magnificent edifice of imperial power.
**The Divine Mandate**:
All noble houses derive their authority ultimately from the Emperor's divine blessing, and this is far more than mere ceremonial tradition. Powerful magical bonds tie each house's supernatural abilities directly to the Imperial bloodline, ensuring loyalty and preventing rebellion through supernatural means that cannot be circumvented. Should any house truly betray the empire, the Emperor possesses the power to revoke these ancient bonds, stripping them of their enhanced abilities and noble status, reducing them to mere mortals.
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Aethelgard: The Crown Jewel of The Empire
The magnificent regional capital of the Continent of Arkanus, the Grand City Aethelgard, a metropolis that encompasses an astonishing 41 million square kilometers out of the 70 million square kilometers comprising the entire western subcontinent of Arkanus. Its massive walls encircle this metropolis as far as the eye can see, their enchanted surfaces gleaming in the sunlight like the scales of some colossal, protective dragon whose body encompasses the greatest city ever built by mortal hands.
This massive tiered city is further divided into four great sections, each with its own distinct purpose and level of prestige that reflects the hierarchical nature of imperial society:
-THE INNERMOST TIERED CITY SANCTUM-
The innermost part of the Grand City Sanctum, where the imperial throne sits in majesty, encompasses 1 million square kilometers of land and fresh water, it is the regional capital city and it represents the beating heart of the empire.
It houses not only the Golden Crystal Spire of Eternity, the Regalia Imperion, the Crownhold Aethelgard—the magnificent heart of the capital city which contains the breathtaking Golden Crystalline Throne of the Emperor—but also the highest echelons of imperial society and governance. Here reside the most prestigious academic institutions that educate citizens in every walk of life, military headquarters containing detailed maps of every corner of the known world, heavily guarded treasuries filled with wealth accumulated from across the empire's vast territories, economic institutions that regulate trade on a continental scale, and every other important facility required to administer the vast territories under Janus's enlightened rule.
Protecting this sacred center are walls reaching 200 meters in height and 50 meters wide, constructed of ancient stone infused with protective magics that have never been breached in the empire's long history. Elaborate carvings depicting the empire's founding adorn these massive barriers, telling the epic story of Janus's rise to power and his sacred mission to unite the land.
THE INNER TIERED CITY SANCTUM
The Inner Grand City Sanctum occupied another 5 million square kilometers of land and fresh water, housing the four Archducal houses that have been equally divided into four distinct sections of 1.25 million square kilometers each. Of this land, 250 thousand square kilometers consisted of meticulously maintained arable lands, where specially trained farmers, selected from the most skilled laborers of the outermost section, cultivated rare herbs and exotic fruits that could be found nowhere else in the known world.
Within these sacred walls lived the higher-tiered citizenry who specialized in managing the regional capital's economy and, by extension, the entire empire's wealth. They were masters of trade and commerce, the place where merchants, noble houses, and other high-echelon members worked tirelessly to keep the empire's vast machinery running smoothly.
Its walls standing 150 meters tall and 30 meters wide surrounded this section, their surface embedded with precious gems that glowed softly at night, illuminating the pathways for nobles returning from evening councils and banquets.
THE MIDDLE TIERED CITY SANCTUM
The Middle Grand City Sanctum encompassed 12 million square kilometers of land and fresh water. Eight million square kilometers housed the middle-tier citizens and important facilities used for industry, businesses, and the Military Academy of the Elite Tier Units of the Military—2.1 million strong warriors, each capable of facing ten ordinary Imperial soldiers in battle. These elite forces were divided equally among the Noble Ducal Houses and the Emperor's Personal Elite Soldiers, supported by 4.2 million specialized support personnel.
Another million square kilometers was dedicated to preserved forest, where magical creatures roamed freely under imperial protection. Five hundred thousand square kilometers contained woods processed for construction, and another five hundred thousand square kilometers held mountains rich with rare minerals and precious stones used for intricate jewelry and the construction of the empire's most important ritual sites and defensive structures.
This middle tier was equally divided among eight Grand Ducal Houses, each administrating 1.25 million square kilometers, with 250 thousand square kilometers of arable lands producing the empire's staple foods.
It was here that the empire's industrial heartbeat was the strongest, specializing in manufacturing, commerce, and elite military training. The middle-tier citizenry who lived here were masters of craft and war, producing the finest weapons, armor, and luxury goods in all the known lands.
They employed many from the lower tiers as laborers, recognizing that skilled hands were the foundation of imperial prosperity. These workers represented perhaps the most important part of a functioning society—the invisible force that kept the wheels turning throughout the Regional Capital City.
Walls rising 100 meters tall and 25 meters wide encircled this tier, their surfaces inscribed with spells of reinforcement and vigilance that had withstood centuries of testing.
THE OUTERMOST TIERED CITY SANCTUM
The Outermost Grand City Sanctum spanned an impressive 23 million square kilometers. Sixteen million of these were occupied by the lower-tiered citizenry, along with various institutions and the Regular Military Academic Institutions and Houses and Complexes that housed the Regular Imperial Army and its Support Forces.
This expansive tier was equally divided into eight sections, each administered by one of the eight remaining outer pillars of the Empire—the Ducal Houses that governed the outer city. Each section consisted of 2.5 million square kilometers of land and fresh water, with 500 thousand square kilometers dedicated to farming the common crops that fed the empire's masses.
Two million square kilometers contained scattered forests preserved for greenery, beautification, and royal hunting expeditions where nobles tested their skills against magical beasts. Another million square kilometers provided woods processed for various construction projects, from humble dwellings to grand performance halls, along with material for handicrafts and everyday tools.
The mountains, covering one million square kilometers, yielded minerals and stones used in constructing the empire's ever-expanding infrastructure, while the rarer elements were crafted into jewelry that adorned the empire's elite and even the common people.
Most impressive were the Outer Sanctum Grand City Walls, spanning the entire 41 million square kilometer perimeter. These massive structures can house the Regular Imperial Army and the Noble Ducal Houses that commanded them and were stationed in their own section of the stretched wall, along with the Imperial Royal Army that moved only under their Emperor's direct orders.
Each great house was responsible for defending 1.9 million square kilometers of the outer wall, commanding a combined force of 21 million combat oriented specialists and 42 million support personnel. These tremendous numbers were divided equally among the Great Ducal Houses and the Emperor's Personal Imperial Royal Army, though ultimately, all answered to Janus's command.
The walls themselves were engineering marvels—200 meters wide at the outer wall partition, with 150 meters of interior living space, and another 200 meters of reinforced backing. Standing 60 meters tall and boasting a massive 550 meters in total thickness, they circled the entire 41 million square kilometer of the Grand city, their parapets constantly manned by vigilant sentries scanning the horizon for any sign of hostile approach.
To prevent the soldiers from feeling confined within these massive fortifications, they rotated monthly between wall duty and assignments within the city proper, where comfortable housing complexes and military institutions provided rest and training.
These forces also patrolled the inner to outer tiered cities, ensuring peace and order throughout Aethelgard. Only the Imperial Royal Army was entrusted with guarding the sacred innermost city sanctum where Emperor Janus himself resided.
**In total, the military comprised 23 million combat specialists and 46 million support personnel, tasked with both security control and military matters over the entire Regional Capital City of Aethelgard—a force so vast and well-trained that no enemy had dared launch a direct assault on the capital in over three centuries.**
**Current Population, 2 billion souls within Aethelgard.**
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THE GRAND ORDERS OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY, NAVY/MARINE AND THEIR SUPPORT GROUPS
The Elmisians and Arkanians have long shown profound respect for their military orders, which form the backbone of the Empire's might. These orders can be broken into several distinct hierarchies, each serving a crucial role in the Empire's defense and expansion:
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**THE ORDER OF THE IMPERIAL ROYAL GUARD**
These elite warriors safeguard the Emperor and his house in the innermost sanctum. They undergo combat training of a higher caliber than those of the Regular Imperial Army, answering solely to the Emperor's commands. Their distinctive crimson and gold armor marks them as the chosen defenders of the Imperial bloodline. One million strong, they are handpicked from the most loyal families across the Empire.
(One hundred thousand strong)
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**THE ORDER OF THE ELITE IMPERIAL ROYAL ARMY**
They form the foremost spear that accompanies the Emperor when he marches to battle. These soldiers endure the most rigorous training regimens, occasionally receiving personal instruction from Emperor Janus himself in the ancient combat arts. Their discipline is unmatched, their loyalty absolute. One hundred thousand strong, they represent the pinnacle of martial prowess in the known world.
(One million strong)
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**THE ORDER OF THE REGULAR IMPERIAL ARMY**
Under the command of the 20 Great Ducal Houses, these soldiers receive standardized basic and advanced combat training. The only distinction lies in their chain of command—they answer to the Dukes, who in turn fall under the direct command of their Emperor. Twenty million strong, they form the bulk of the Empire's ground forces, their blue-and-silver uniforms a common sight throughout the realm, and their right arm guards bear the emblem of the house they serve while the left side belongs to the Emperor's house.
(Twenty million strong)
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**THE ORDER OF THE REGULAR ELITE IMPERIAL ARMY**
Direct subordinates of the Great Ducal Houses, they share the same foundation as the Regular Imperial Army but receive additional specialized training unique to the houses they serve. Two million strong, further divided equally a hundred thousand each, they serve as the personal forces of the Great Houses Specializing in different forms of combat unique to the house that they serve.
(Two million strong)
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**THE ORDER OF THE ARMY SUPPORT GROUPS**
These units fall under the directives of the main strike forces, maintaining a 2:1 ratio. Comprising engineers, quartermasters, medics, and artisans, blacksmiths, weaponsmiths, armor makers and every other support function that is needed to maintain the army in the field. They ensure the fighting forces remain well-supplied, oiled and operational at any given notice. At 46.2 million strong, they represent the unseen but essential foundation of the Empire's military might.
(Forty-six million strong)
**The entirety of the Army stands at 69,300,000 strong—a force unmatched even in the known world.**
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**THE ORDER OF THE IMPERIAL ROYAL NAVY**
Guardian of the seas, this naval force protects the continent from external threats. Their banner, a golden water dragon upon azure waves, instills both fear and respect across the oceans.
- The navy maintains 21,000 grand vessels of war that roam the high seas. Each measures 500 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 30 feet high, capable of carrying 1,500 soldiers/marines and 500 support personnel alongside 210 sailors who operate the complex systems of sails, ballistas, and arcane engines that power these leviathans.
- Additionally, 50,000 smaller vessels patrol the coasts and rivers of the entire continent of Arkanus. At 200 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 20 feet high, each requires 120 sailors to operate and can transport up to 300 soldiers/marines and 200 support personnel. Together, these naval personnel number 10.41 million.
(Ten million and four hundred ten thousand strong)
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**THE ORDER OF THE IMPERIAL ROYAL MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE**
The navy's equivalent to a land army, these specialized troops that excel in amphibious assaults, capable of establishing beachheads under the most challenging conditions. 127.8 million strong, both reserve forces with 115.02 million (90%) men and women and active duty personnel of both men and women at 12.78 million (10%).
Reshuffling from active duty to reserve force every 2 years of active service, to train in the high seas, the rivers and every water way the Empire owns. Reserve troops are either chosen as combat ready force at 15% capacity or allowed to have different professions when not in active duty or in combat ready reserve.
They wear distinctive sea-green armor adorned with silver wave patterns and the emblem of the Water Dragon Queen in their chests.
(One hundred twenty-seven million and eight hundred thousand strong)
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*THE ORDER OF THE IMPERIAL ROYAL NAVYAND MARINE EXPEDITIONARY SUPPORT GROUP*
This combined force provides logistical support to naval and marine operations, numbering 56.8 million support personnel serving at least 3 marines/sailors per support personnel.
They are operating at a reduced capacity of 10% maximum active duty support personnel during peacetime and during war time they are at least expected to be at 50% capacity in the first few months of the war. Whereas, personnel in the reserve force are allowed to exercise their professions in the Empire.
(Fifty-six million and eight hundred thousand strong)
**The entirety of both the navy and marine forces, including support groups, stands at 184.6 million strong—a maritime power without equal.**
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THE SPECIALIZED ORDERS OUTSIDE THE TRADITIONAL MILITARY STRUCTURE
*THE ORDER OF THE IMPERIAL ROYAL MAGIC DIVISION*
This separate entity falls directly under the Emperor's command rather than the military hierarchy. Comprising mages proficient in combat magical arts, they serve as both battlefield magical support units and strategic assets. Their commanding general in times of war is the Grand Advisor and Elder Solomon Brand Elmsvale from the House of Elms, whose wisdom spans centuries. Though relatively small at 210,000 members, each mage represents the equivalent of a conventional battalion in combat potential. Their tower in Aethelgard, with its ever-shifting crystalline architecture, serves as both a monument to arcane knowledge and a warning against those who would threaten the peace of the Empire.
(Two hundred ten thousand strong)
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*THE ORDER OF THE EMPEROR'S DRAGOON COMPANY*
This highly specialized group consists of their Wyverns and Wyvern Riders soaring above the battlefields, with Emperor Janus himself at the helm of the command, mounted upon his true dragon Chronusfyre Solumbra, a true-born royal heir the Dragon Prince whose black, red and golden scales shimmer like polished gems in the sunlight. Numbering just 2,500 riders, including the Emperor, they represent an unparalleled aerial force. The bond between rider and mount transcends mere military utility. Janus, inspired by the stories of the Dragon King, created this specialized aerial unit, although it is of mere semblance of what once were true dragon riders and not mere wyverns riders. Nevertheless it is a sacred covenant dating back to the earliest days of the old Arkanian Empire.
(Two thousand five hundred strong)
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*THE ORDER OF THE ELM WARDENS*
These Elite Guardians of the sacred groves throughout the empire, protectors of the mystical trees that channel the realm's power. Belonging to the ancient house of Elms that had served the previous Imperial House of Arkanus before the great cataclysmic collapse and eradication of the empire as a whole.
This is a separate Elite Military Force under the House of Elms, not part of the Imperial Regular or Elite Army.
(one million strong).
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*THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN WINGED DRAGONS*
A flight of True Dragons Riders who serve the Imperial House directly, they are the surviving descendants of those who served Emperor Arkanus and the people of Arkanus before the fall of the Empire. (only 10 remaining units, now separate and specialized from the Dragoon Company that compromises entirely of Wyverns Riders.)
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*THE ORDER OF THE ARCANE INQUISITORS*
A Separate mage division, a highly trained Mage-Investigators who ensure magical law is upheld throughout the realm and root out forbidden practices that endangers the Empire as a whole.
(Two thousand one hundred strong)
**The entirety of the combined specialized orders number 1,241,610 specialized personnel.**