Chapter 34: Imperial Victory in the Central-North Territories
Year 0003, Month XI-XII: The Imperium
---
Day 91: House Kodiak and White Bear
In the distant northern reaches of the Central Subcontinent's Imperial territories, the Emperor's forces had achieved a decisive and brutal victory. The rebellion that had festered in these remote lands for months was now utterly crushed, its leaders eliminated along with their devoted followers. This campaign of pacification had been entrusted to two of the Empire's most formidable military and pillar houses: House Kodiak and House Whitebear, both acting under the direct mandate of Emperor Janus himself.
The efficiency with which these elite forces dismantled the rebel elements was nothing short of remarkable. In mere months, they had systematically eradicated what remained of the insurgency—descendants of those who had once pledged loyalty to the accursed Fresco League of Kingdoms. These misguided souls had attempted to stage a resurgence, foolishly believing they could challenge the might of the restored Empire. Their timing could not have been worse, for Emperor Janus harbored a deep and abiding hatred for anything connected to the Fresco League.
The League had been a confederation of petty kingdoms born from the ashes of the mighty Empire of Arkanus, created with the express purpose of enslaving and eradicating the Elmisian people—the proud descendants of that ancient empire. Millions of Elmisians had been dragged into bondage when Arkanus fell, their culture and heritage systematically destroyed by these usurpers who took advantage of the empire's moment of weakness. The Elms Household, once a pillar house for the ruling dynasty of Arkanus, had watched helplessly as their people were scattered to the winds, sold into slavery, or worse.
It had taken Emperor Janus millennia of careful planning, brutal warfare, and unwavering determination to purge this plague from the face of the continent. The traitors who had profited from Arkanus's fall had been hunted down one by one, their kingdoms conquered, their bloodlines extinguished. Yet despite his best efforts, some dissidents had managed to survive in the most remote corners of the realm, clinging to their outdated ideologies like parasites. These northern rebels represented some of the last remnants of that cursed legacy, and their destruction marked another step toward the complete eradication of the League's poisonous influence.
The strategic deployment of the two houses had been carefully planned to maximize their effectiveness while respecting the ancient treaties that governed the land. House Kodiak had been assigned clean up duties of these rebels over the Central-Western territories, while House Whitebear commanded the Central-Eastern regions. The vast expanse of the Great Mountain Ridges of Arkanus, connected to the legendary Great Caldera, served as a natural barrier between their operational zones, making direct cooperation impossible.
This geographical division was not merely a matter of convenience—it was a necessity born of diplomatic prudence. The mountains were sacred territory, protected by an ancient pact between Emperor Janus and the Dragon King who ruled the peaks. Any attempt to cross these heights on foot or to tunnel through the stone would constitute a grave violation of their treaty, likely provoking the wrath of the ancient beasts that made their homes in the crags and caverns above. These creatures, beasts, the dragons and their kin, possessed the power to rain destruction upon the cities below, turning prosperous settlements into ash-covered ruins in a matter of hours.
Thus, the Central Subcontinent of Arkanus—birthplace of the new human subspecies known as Arkanians—remained divided into two distinct zones: the Central-West and Central-East. This division necessitated the use of the Great Rivers, those mighty waterways that served as the primary arteries connecting the three subcontinents, to access the coastal seas and maintain communication between the regions.
With the rebellion's backbone broken, the Imperial Forces began the systematic process of withdrawal, leaving the responsibility for maintaining order to the regional armies and local garrison forces. These standing armies, composed of soldiers loyal to the various kingdoms and regions under Imperial authority, were more than capable of handling routine security matters. The Imperial Forces had come north for one purpose only: to provide the overwhelming force necessary to completely annihilate the rebel threat, and that mission was now complete.
The brutal efficiency displayed by Houses Kodiak and Whitebear sent shockwaves of fear throughout the region, serving as a stark reminder of the Empire's military superiority. House Kodiak had deployed their legendary Iron Claws—a hundred thousand elite berserker warriors renowned for their complete disregard for personal safety. These fearsome soldiers fought with an animalistic fury that could shatter enemy formations through sheer psychological terror, their battle cries echoing across the battlefield as they carved through rebel lines with savage precision.
House Whitebear, meanwhile, had unleashed their elite Frost Guards upon the enemy. These heavily armored warriors rode massive armored polar bears into battle, wielding weapons forged from enchanted ice that never melted, regardless of temperature or climate. The sight of these frost-wreathed champions charging across the battlefield, their mounts roaring challenges to the sky, was enough to break the morale of even the most hardened opponents.
The presence of these elite Imperial forces served multiple purposes beyond mere military necessity. Their overwhelming display of power boosted the morale of the regional troops, demonstrating the supreme training and discipline that characterized the Imperial Capital's war-bred soldiers. To the local forces, these elite units represented the pinnacle of human evolution in combat—living proof of what heights the Arkanian physique could achieve when properly honed and directed.
The message was clear: the Empire's military might was not merely theoretical but devastatingly real. Any future thoughts of rebellion would have to contend with the memory of this demonstration, and the knowledge that the Empire possessed countless more such elite units within its vast military hierarchy.
With the northern rebellion finally crushed, attention could now turn to other matters of imperial concern. In the central regions of the continent, tensions were rising between two allied kingdoms, threatening to boil over into open warfare. The Empire's position on this developing conflict had been made crystal clear through official proclamations: despite the fact that both kingdoms held alliance status with the Empire, Imperial forces would remain neutral unless treaty violations occurred that directly threatened Imperial interests or required intervention under existing mutual defense agreements.
This policy of strategic neutrality reflected the Empire's maturation as a continental power. No longer did it need to involve itself in every regional dispute; its strength was such that it could afford to allow allied powers to resolve their differences independently, intervening only when absolutely necessary to preserve the broader balance of power.
Upon their triumphant return to the Imperial Capital, Houses Kodiak and Whitebear would receive the heroes' welcome they deserved. The citizenry would line the streets to witness the victorious procession of these pillar houses, their banners flying proudly as they marched through the capital's grand boulevards. Such ceremonies served not only to honor the victorious commanders but also to reinforce the Empire's military prestige and the loyalty of its people.
---
The Imperial Capital Region and its Regional Imperial Territories and The Regional Imperial Army/Navy Outside the Capital: Western Subcontinent
While the Empire's standing Imperial Army within the capital maintained its position as the military's elite core, the territorial forces stationed throughout the outlying regions represented a more varied picture of military readiness and capability. The integration of formerly independent kingdoms into the Imperial structure was an ongoing process, one that required careful balance between central authority and local autonomy.
The Western Subcontinent had finally achieved complete unification under the Imperial banner following the decisive defeat of the remaining Fresco League territories. These conquered lands had been reorganized into five Special Administrative Regions, currently undergoing intensive reconstruction and political integration efforts designed to establish firm Imperial influence over these newly acquired territories. Meanwhile, five additional regions had voluntarily sworn fealty to the Empire during the conquest and three more were conquered through force, providing crucial support in the campaign against their former League allies.
The reorganized Western Subcontinent now comprised fourteen distinct regions, each with its own unique characteristics, strategic importance, and military capabilities:
The Imperial Capital Region
The heart of Imperial power encompassed a vast territory of forty-one million square kilometers, home to a staggering population of two billion souls. This massive demographic base provided the Empire with an enormous military potential, with fifteen percent of the population—approximately three hundred million individuals—classified as combat-ready personnel. This figure represented not merely standing army strength but the total pool of citizens capable of military service, from active-duty soldiers to trained reserves and support forces.
The Capital Region served as more than just an administrative center; it was the Empire's industrial and cultural heart, producing the weapons, equipment, and supplies that sustained Imperial forces throughout the continent. Its massive population provided both the workforce for these vital industries and the recruitment pool for the Empire's most elite military units.
The Five Upper Regions
**Region 1 - Royal House of Agwa**
The domain of House Agwa stretched across 2.2 million square kilometers of strategically valuable territory, positioned along the great oceans that bordered the western and southwestern coastlines. This maritime access provided the region with significant economic advantages, enabling robust trade relationships with neighboring landlocked territories through the exchange of aquatic resources harvested from the vast oceanic waters.
House Agwa had been among the first five royal houses to recognize the inevitability of Imperial victory and surrender before suffering the devastation that befell those who resisted. This pragmatic decision had earned them considerable rewards in the post-conquest settlement. The current monarch held the prestigious title of Imperial Marquess or Marchioness, granting them substantial autonomy in regional governance while maintaining loyalty to the Imperial throne.
The region retained significant self-governing privileges, including the authority to enact local laws supplementing Imperial statutes and to maintain independent military forces separate from the Imperial Army proper. However, the Emperor retained the right to appoint the supreme commander of these regional forces, ensuring ultimate Imperial control over military matters. The seventy-five million inhabitants of the region could field approximately 750,000 combat personnel, representing one percent of the total population.
All regional military units bore both their ancestral House coat of arms and the Imperial Sigil of Elms-Arkanus, symbolizing the dual loyalty that characterized the post-conquest political arrangement.
**Region 2 - Royal House of Talia**
House Talia governed four million square kilometers of diverse terrain, including vast plains and dense forests accessible primarily through overland routes and river tributaries. Like House Agwa, they had demonstrated wisdom in surrendering early, earning them similar privileges and protections under Imperial rule.
The region's hundred million inhabitants represented a significant demographic asset, capable of fielding 1.5 million combat personnel—a higher percentage than most regions due to their historical warrior culture and strategic importance. The varied terrain of their domain provided excellent training grounds for different types of military units, from cavalry forces suited to the open plains to infantry specialists adapted to forest warfare.
**Region 3 - Royal House of Hiyas**
The largest of the five upper regions, House Hiyas controlled five million square kilometers of territory notable for its geographical diversity and economic specialization. The region encompassed plains, forests, and mountain ranges, but was particularly renowned for its expertise in jewelry crafting and gemstone working—skills that had made them wealthy trading partners throughout the pre-conquest period.
With 150 million inhabitants, the region could field an impressive three million combat personnel, representing two percent of the population. This higher military participation rate reflected both the region's prosperity, which allowed for greater investment in military training and equipment, and their strategic location, which had historically required strong defensive capabilities.
**Region 4 - Royal House of Isla**
Despite being the smallest of the original five allied regions at 1.5 million square kilometers, House Isla had earned its place through strategic importance rather than sheer size. Their thirty million inhabitants, while fewer in number than their neighbors, were known for their high degree of military discipline and tactical expertise.
The region's 300,000 combat personnel, representing one percent of the population, were renowned for their quality rather than quantity. Many of the Regions outside of the Imperial Capital Region's most elite units were recruited heavily from this region, valuing the disciplined mindset and tactical acumen that characterized Isla's military tradition.
**Region 5 - Royal House of Perlah**
House Perlah's 2.5 million square kilometers of territory enjoyed the strategic advantage of access to both the Great River of the Central-West and extensive overland trade routes. The region had built its prosperity on river pearl harvesting—a specialized industry that had given the house its name and provided the economic foundation for their political influence.
The eighty million inhabitants of the region could field 1.2 million combat personnel, reflecting a 1.5 percent participation rate that indicated both prosperity and security concerns. The region's position along major trade routes required substantial military presence to protect merchants and maintain the flow of commerce that benefited the entire Empire.
The Three Middle Regions
**Region 6 - Royal House of Ula**
Controlling three million square kilometers below Regions Agwa and Talia, House Ula had built their power base on maritime trade and oceanic resource exploitation. Their southwestern coastline provided access to different oceanic zones than those controlled by House Agwa, enabling them to harvest unique varieties of sea gems and other valuable aquatic resources.
The region's 120 million inhabitants could field 1.8 million combat personnel, representing a significant military contribution to the Empire's Regional overall strength. Their expertise in amphibious operations and naval warfare made them particularly valuable for coastal defense and maritime expeditions.
**Region 7 - Royal House of Rosario**
House Rosario's 2.3 million square kilometers occupied a crucial central position, bordering multiple other regions and serving as a key transit zone for inter-regional trade and communication. Their territory's mix of plains, forests, and mountains provided diverse resources and strategic depth.
With one hundred million inhabitants fielding 1.2 million combat personnel, the region maintained a balanced approach to military service that reflected their role as mediators and facilitators between other regional powers. Their central location made them natural diplomats and coordinators within the Imperial structure.
**Region 8 - Royal House of Talia**
The final of the original allied regions, House Tala controlled two million square kilometers with strategic access to the Great River system. Their ninety million inhabitants could provide 900,000 combat personnel, maintaining the Empire's military standards while contributing to the overall defensive network.
The Lower Regions: Special Administrative Regions (SAR)
The five Special Administrative Regions represented the Empire's most ambitious reconstruction project. Previously united as the core territory of the Fresco League of Kingdoms, this 6.5 million square kilometer expanse had been deliberately subdivided into five equal administrative units of 1.3 million square kilometers each, designated as Regions 9 through 13 under the collective name of the Eleanor Special Administrative Zone.
The demographic impact of the conquest had been severe but necessary. The pre-war population of nearly one billion had been reduced to three hundred million through the systematic elimination of League leadership, military forces, and their most ardent supporters. The survivors, many of whom had been enslaved or reduced to serfdom under the League's oppressive system, were now beginning the slow process of rebuilding their lives under Imperial protection.
Each of the five SARs housed approximately sixty million inhabitants, but their military capacity remained severely limited. The combined forces of all five regions could muster only 500,000 combat personnel—a figure that reflected both the demographic disruption and the ongoing security concerns that plagued these territories.
The insufficient military presence had initially led to widespread problems with banditry, smuggling, and other criminal activities that flourished in the power vacuum following the League's collapse. However, supplementary security forces provided by neighboring regions and direct Imperial intervention had gradually restored order. Additional security personnel continued to be deployed as needed, with the situation improving steadily as the months passed and legitimate government authority became more firmly established.
The integration of these territories represented both a challenge and an opportunity for the Empire. While the immediate costs of reconstruction and security were substantial, the long-term benefits of controlling this vast territory—with its resources, strategic position, and eventual demographic recovery—would strengthen the Empire's position for generations to come. The harsh lessons learned during this process would also inform future expansion efforts, ensuring that subsequent conquests could be managed more efficiently and with less disruption to civilian populations.
The success of the Western Subcontinent's integration served as a model for Imperial expansion elsewhere, demonstrating that even the most bitter enemies could eventually be transformed into productive Imperial citizens through a combination of decisive military action, pragmatic political arrangements, and patient reconstruction efforts.
**The combined strength of the Western Regional Imperial Army and Navy outside of the Imperial Capital Region is 11.5 million strong personnel.**