Editing Setting:Unified Setting/Vilous (section)

==Silvoran Empire==
An alarming newcomer to the national stage, the Silvoran Empire arose a century ago thanks to the genius and blood-lust of its sergal founder. Governor-General Rain Silves.

Opinions differ as to whether she was a brilliant polymath, a bloodthirsty atavism or a sergal touched by the gods themselves. The facts are she forged a mighty empire out of scattered tribes that once threatened the world and endures to this day. 

A hundred years ago, when Rain began her rise to power, the sergal were nothing more than a uniquely-savage looking breed of beastmen, squabbling amongst themselves and split between the gray northern and tan southern breeds. Five years later the Shigu clan she ruled was the dominant power of the Tatola Plains. Ninety years ago the northern sergals were united under her banner. Five years after that the Silvoran Empire was well on their way to conquering their southern kin. Eighty years ago the Silvoran Empire stood supreme and lay claim to territories previously claimed by the elves and humans. A grand alliance against the Silvoran Empire, uniting all the humanoid races against the beastmen, began to form.

Five years later the Grand Alliance was in shambles. The previously invincible elves had been outwitted. outnumbered, defeated and forced to sign a humiliating armistice. The humans, drow and even the dwarves trembled as they prepared for a seemingly inevitable conflict that would engulf the globe.

And seventy years ago, Governor-General Rain vanished. The Silvoran Empire, bereft of Rain's leadership and thirst for conquest, pulled back and sought to stabilize itself. Today she still rules, in name only. Her chambers are sealed and only opened once a year for cleaning, dusting, and replacing the furnishings that need replacement. The chambers are then sealed for another year. Officially she is out inspecting the troops as that was the last item in her schedule before she disappeared. Actual power is wielded by the military, which is all that is left of sergal culture after her reign.

While outwardly a great power, the Silvoran Empire is teetering on the brink of collapse. Universal conscription into the omnipresent military has done much to unify the sergals (as has making referring to southerners by the racial epithet of "gnoll-blooded" a prosecutable offense under the Silvoran Code of Military Justice). But there are still factions dividing the empire.

Southern sergals are resentful of their subjugation, and bands of freedom-fighters still roam the Sailzane Desert. The military government is ill-suited to deal with the complexity of a modern society, but dare not change for fear of unleashing pent-up revolutionary forces. Ambitious generals scheme for the position of Acting Governor-General, followers of the old ways agitate for greater influence, and most disturbing of all is the Cult of Rain.

Declaring her the Eternal Empress, these cultists believe Rain still lives and will return one day to lead the Silvoran Empire to new heights of glory. While loyal to the existing government they do all in their power to expand the empire, believing that is her will and that conflict will lead to strength. The generals who run the empire keep a careful eye on the cult, fearful that they may be right and that the magics Rain learned in her later years could preserve her to the present day.