The Denur Imperium

Location	Northern Mountain Range
Races	Denur
Primary Religions	Church of the Golden Lord
Political System	Theocratic Oligarchy
Current Leader	Ardach Nezgar

Introduction

Centuries passed while the mountains lay quiet, but now forges are relit and the drums of worship sound in the deep. The Denur, an ancient folk of mountain dwellers, have finally resurfaced and are ready to march under the banner of their Golden Lord, Deonach.

Entering the mountains of the denur, leaving the biting frost from the snowy outdoors, you will be struck with intense heat from the blasting forges, molten magma flowing through the cavern. The smashing of alloys and the crackling of the glowing hot tools being drowned in the buckets of water, the thundering cheering and tankards crashing against each other fill the atmosphere in this mountain. From the deep the rumour of constant prayers rises to the surface. Taking a breath in, the smell of molten metal and beer would load your nose. Going through you are met by the black rock sides all around this fortress city, a glorious purple crystal in the center hanging down looking over the immense anvil of the denur, enveloped by black rock forges, with tools laying all around, ingots of gold and iron lay scattered over the forges. Great streams of Gold run like rivers through the stone.

History

Gamall Aldur (Old Age)

When they awoke, they were akin to blind children. The firstborn stumbled into the frozen wasteland of the north and desperately tried to survive. Many died due to the cold and the numerous predators. Many more died from countless diseases and famines. Their lives were miserable and short, until he appeared. Deonach took pity upon these creatures and appeared before them. The Denur looked to the heavens and a thousand suns pierced the skies. Clad in golden armour made from the stars themselves, he descended upon them and all of the Denur kneeled before him, for their god had shown himself. Deonach led his people to the vast mountains, in which they made their homes safe from the dangers of the outside world.

Myrkur Aldur (Dark Age)

But as the centuries grew old the keen minds of the firstborn faded and the might of Deonach seemed far away. The Denur became more and more obsessed with scientific progress and slowly turned their backs on Deonach in pursuit of endless advancement. To free themselves from physical labour, factories sprouted up everywhere and black smoke filled the once beautiful halls. Countless churches were felled and in their place laboratories were built, to perform cruel experiments. The few that opposed this tyranny and remained faithful to Deonach were expelled and forced to live outside the mountains.

Mor-Hormung (Great Collapse)

The Mor-Hormung is the day of great shame for all of the Denur. For on that one day the hubris and pride of our misguided ancestors finally became their downfall, at exactly the same time all Denur cities fell silent. Their inhabitants simply vanished alongside all their contraptions. But whatever curse had befallen their brothers, Deonach had shielded the faithful, once again saving their misguided race. To this day the cause of the Mor-Hormung eludes us, but the consequences were disastrous. In one day, more than 90% of the total population vanished and most cities quickly deteriorated. A tremendous amount of knowledge and wealth was lost to the ages and famines broke out due to the lack of farmers.

Tergur Aldur (Age of Rebuilding)

After the Mor-Hormung the few Denur that remained banded together and all united in Dar-ach Denur. Shortly after the Enlightened Tribunal was established and the three orders began to be formed. For the next couple decades society slowly began to re-emerge.

Utspil Aldur (Age of Expansion)

After regaining their strength and rebuilding their home, the Denur finally looked outward. In the time they were gone, a couple of human settlements had sprung up in the valleys. The overzealous Denur were eager to rectify their past mistakes and thought that wiping out these heretics would be an act of righteous justice. The first crusade was about to begin. The initial push went well and a couple of small towns fell before the advancing horde. Then the humans raised a mighty force and in a single battle annihilated the crusading force. Battered and bruised, the few survivors retreat into the mountain. For the next 5 years Dar-ach Denur was besieged, but it did not falter.

Einangrun Aldur (Age of Isolation)

After the bloody crusades, the Ardach of the time decided that it was best to return to the mountains and limit contact with the outside as much as possible. Over the next years the Denur gradually retreated inside their mountainous homes, until all contact with the outside world had ceased. Due to the isolation the rotting plague had little to no effect on the Denur. They remained there for the next century, until now.  

Nutima Aldur (Modern Age)

Then we come to the modern age, of which the history is not yet written. It will be up to us to guide our nation to glory or die trying.

Political Beliefs

Hierarchy inside the Denur Imperium is strict, as the enlightened tribunal rules through faith, therefore its orders are to be followed as if Deonach himself gives you a command. This authoritarian discipline has led to a strict hierarchy wherein citizens are not only expected to follow every command, they are not to question them as well. Because of this structure and the three orders, the elite of Denur society are not the wealthy or those of noble blood, instead the elite is composed of the influential members of the three orders. The middle class is made up of the rich craftsmen and merchants, the common workers, mainly miners and labourers, make up the lowests class of society. But unlike most hierarchical societies, members of each class are free to mingle and marry, and using your status for your own gains is something frowned upon. For every citizen, no matter their status is just a piece of the machine that executes Deonach’s divine will.

Military

After the disastrous crusade and the subsequent isolation the military of the Denur Imperium has been shrunk down to the bare minimum. Because the Denur live inside a mountain, which has only one entrance, the defence of their home is not only easy, but also takes few men. Therefore as of today there is only one standing regiment, the hammers of Deoach. They are of course named after the famous Denur warhammer, which they use with great effect. Due to their elite nature, this regiment receives the best gear possible, its commanders even don the famous Gullna Vendrir. The rest of the armour also has a golden glow, which makes the soldiers of the Denur seem as if they are Deonach himself. Despite the armies limited size, it is not viewed as an useless organization. In fact fighting for Deonach is seen as a great honour and many envy the few who are chosen. It is just that a great army is not needed and would just be a waste of resources. But to still ensure the existence of a reserve army, all citizens are expected to serve at least one every two weeks. This can be combat training, repairing gear or just cleaning the barracks. This way the entire society comes together to make sure their defence is ready.

Law

Law and order is upheld by the Keepers of order, and thus every aspect of the law is drenched in religious rules. Criminals are punished extremely harshly and instead of rotting in a dungeon most criminals are either sent to the mines, executed or sent to fight in the army. But this does not mean that criminals and innocent people get killed left and right. Every criminal has the right to a fair trial and are even given an advocate themselfs, to help them in their defence. But should they be found guilty they can look forward to the bleak prospect that 4 out of 10 criminals are executed. Those that are not executed on the spot are often sent to work in the deepest mines, collecting ores for the forges. Most do not survive more than a few years. Some criminals are forced into the army were they are grouped into a single suicide battalion. Of course due to the religious zealotism in the Denur Imperium followers of other faiths can only expect persecution.

Culture and Society

The governing body of the Denur Empire is the enlightened tribunal. The Tribunal is blessed by Deonach and therefore rules with absolute power, the leader of the Tribunal is the Ardach. The three other seats on the Tribunal are reserved for the heads of the orders. The orders are factions within the Denur society all with their own tasks, listed below are the three orders.

Heralds of the Golden Lord

Arguably the most important order of the three is the priesthood. For they spread the divine word of Deonach throughout the empire. Their task is simple, to help the populace with their spiritual guidance. To this end they oversee the many ceremonies that are held every week and maintain the places of worship. They also help in any and all matters spiritual.

Deonach is worshipped in many ways, one can simply pray to him or join mass ceremonies held by the church. The Denur don’t sacrifice material goods to Deonach, instead every citizen is expected to dedicate their lives to the worship of their lord and to work hard for the betterment of all the Denur. Declaring saints is also something unheard of, since the Denur almost destroyed themselves if it was not for him, only Deonach deserves worship.

The Hierarchy of the Heralds is as follows, at the head of the clergy stands the high priest, whose task it is to oversee this immense organisation. Directly below are the priests that all have a church, it is their duty to support their people with spiritual assistance. Then there are the endless legions of monks that assist the priests and dedicate themselves to general maintenance.    

Scholars of Nazgir

The scholars of Nazgir are the most diverse and fractured organisation. Encompassed within their ranks are not only those who wish to learn and study, but also daring scholars who hunt for ancient artifacts and lore, often with deadly consequences and the smithing guild, who use ancient knowledge to craft their legendary armour, the Gullna Vendrir. Due to their fractured nature we will go over each sub faction individually.

The college of Nazgir

Most of the scholars are part of the college of Nazgir. Like most university students enrol in classes and receive lessons from their professors. Unlike most universities there is a standing militia to guard the ancient knowledge. The official tasks are as follows:

·       The primary tasks of the college is to enlighten the new students and to pass on and enhance the collective Denur knowledge.

·       The scholars are also tasked with the study of old lore and artifacts, a dangerous endeavour since they can easily corrupt one's mind.

·       To guard the collective knowledge, the college has its own standing militia made up of scholars called the keepers of comprehension.

·       The college is also the only organisation which is allowed to train new mages. A mantel it wears with pride.

The hierarchy of the college is as follows, at the head of the order stands the monitor, who oversees the college. He is added to his tasks by the council of the wise, a group of 5 great scholars. The rank that follows is that of the professors, they are the scholars that teach classes and are regarded as experts in their fields. Next are all the scholars that call the college their home, followed by the lowest rank, the new students who are learning to become scholars themselves. The keepers of comprehension answer only to the monitor himself.

The Rogues of Fantur

These brave men and women assemble their own group of scholars, often accompanied by some mercenaries and strike out into the world. Their goal is always the same, the retrieval of lost Denur knowledge and artifacts. After the Mor-Hormung many Denur cities remained empty and were slowly reclaimed by the wilds. Their libraries and laboratories are filled with all kinds of knowledge and trinkets. Of course this line of work does not come without risk, the wilds are dangerous and many of these ruins may not be as empty as they appear. Even when returning home safely the danger does not cease, since the Inquisition is not pleased to see new heretical knowledge. But to some the rewards outweigh the risks, since the advancement of knowledge is a victory for all.

The smithing guild

A group of smiths might seem like a strange inclusion among a bunch of academics, but each of these legendary craftsmen are able to make Gullna Vendrir. Gullna Vendrir is the Drazkal name for the golden armour that only the Denur are able to craft, which is said to be a copy of the golden armour that Deonach himself wears. The knowledge needed to craft this is one of the most closely guarded secrets of the college of Nazgir, which is why the smiths are part of the scholars. If one has endured decades of training and is finally ready to make a set, special minerals from deep inside the mountain are dredged up. For the next few years the smith will work on this single set of armour and accompanying weaponry, but the results are magnificent. Each piece shines like sunlight, even in the dark it will emit a golden glow. It is lighter than steel, yet ten times more durable. The traditional war hammers that are provided with each set are light enough for a child to swing, but hit like 10 boulders. It truly is god-like armour.

Bringers of Order – The Inquisition

The most divisive of the three orders is that of the Inquisition, or as it is formally known; The Bringers of Order. The Inquisition has numerous duties, they are not only tasked with maintaining spiritual purity, but are also tasked with jury duty and are expected to maintain order in the realm. To assist them in their struggles the scholars have gifted every Inquisitor a set of Gullna Vendrir, which has earned the Inquisition the nickname; the Golden Horde of Deonach. Each Inquisitor receives his orders directly from the leader of the order, the esteemed Guardian of Order.

The official list with their assigned tasks are as follows:

·       The primary objective of the Inquisition is also the one for which they are feared the most, the hunting of heretics. Ironically, large scale operations are quite rare these days and despite the tales that are often told, Inquisitors can't go running around murdering innocent civilians. Still, the Golden Horde strikes fear in the hearts of those who would dare go against Deonach and will do anything to purge the heretic.

·       The Inquisition is also tasked with overseeing the jurisdiction of the empire, they are the judges and the executioners. Each tribunal consists of three Inquisitors and the leader, the Guardian.

·       Maintaining order on the streets, this essentially boils down to standard police work and patrol, this assignment is often handed out to recruits or as a punishment.

·       Inquisitors that are adept at commanding troops and show skill in combat may be enrolled into the army and are given the role of Supervisor-Major. Their task is now to keep their regiment loyal to Deonach and inspire the troops to keep morale high or execute any deserters.

The hierarchy of the Bringers of Order is easy to understand, at the top of the organization stands the Guardian, with his two advisors. The next rank are the Princes of Order, an honorary title handed out to Inquisitors after great feats. After them come the normal Inquisitors, followed by the lowest ranks, the new recruits.

Outside the orders

Of course note everyone is destined for the adventurous life of scavenging or hunting heretics. And even the humble merchant and farmer have a valuable place in our society. Afterall, we are all just cogs in the machine that executes the divine will of Deonach. Most citizens that are not part of an order live normal lives, performing their jobs, celebrating on holidays and going to the local inn. The only real obligation is the forced worship of Deonach, and all citizens are expected to go to one ceremony per week.

Commerce and Work

Due to the remote location of Dar-ach Denur and the previous isolation policies, trade is very limited. But trade does exist and the most sought after import is food, which is brought in on many occasions and in vast quantities. The Denur also import great amounts of wood, to fuel their many furnaces and warm their homes. Of course the more wealthy citizens often like to purchase exotic foreign goods and every good merchant will take advantage of this.  

The skill of the Denur was unequal, fashioning objects of great beauty out of diamond, iron and gold. They are famous around eden for their skills with a hammer and an anvil are sought out by all. Having a weapon forged by the great blacksmiths of the Denur is a great honor. This equipment is sold to whoever has the right coin to pay. The legendary armor of Gullna Vendir is the godlike armor that some dwarves have perfected and is no easy task to obtain, or especially create. There are not many who have this armor and if they do, they are either great friends of the dwarves or have rivers of gold to spend. This would be the main focus and income for the people of Dar ach Denur.

The stonemasons of the Denur are also unrivaled, one has only to look at their great mountain dwellings to see this. However they are not only good in creating homes from caves, but also in fashioning roads, bridges and waterworks. The few Denur that ever leave their ancestral land are often the ones that fulfill these tasks, building the infrastructure of the world.  

Religious Beliefs

Litany of the Divine saviour

O be thrice blessed, our Lord Deonach.

For three times you saved our people.

For when our ancestors wandered blind in the wastes,

you gifted them a home.

For when our heads were empty and our forges cold,

you gifted us knowledge and steel.

And when the darkest hour fell,

and brother turned on brother.

You gave your life so our race could survive.

O be thrice blessed, our Lord Deonach.

For you saved our misguided race.

Religion is of tremendous importance to the Denur, for it is the cornerstone upon which their society rests. The Church of the Golden Lord is the only accepted religion and the worship of their god, Deonach, is harshly enforced whenever needed. Unlike most religions, Deonach is not the creator of life, but rather is the saviour and protector of the Denur race. According to the Tome of Enlightenment, Deonach saved the Denur thrice.

The first time was at the dawn of time, when our people had just emerged. The firstborn Denur wandered alone in the inhospitable north and died in droves. Then Deonach descended down to Eden and led his people to the safe mountains in which they made their homes.

The second time was when the Denur had grown their mountainous homes into a small kingdom, but their minds were empty and their forges unlit. Then Deonach reviewed his infinite wisdom to them, which they used to become master smiths and expanded their domain tenfold.

But some of the Denur took his gift and twisted it, becoming increasingly obsessed with knowledge and wealth. This dark age lasted for many years and the few faithful that remained were banished. Then Deonach descended down to Eden for one last time, shielding the faithful from the curse that befell their brothers. This came at a great cost, since Deonach’s body was now broken. But even in Death, Deonach still looks over us, for his physical form may be lost, but his spirit wanders on, still protecting our race. No longer able to manifest himself before his faithful, his will is now interpreted by the Heralds, who spread his word far and wide throughout our empire.

Deonach is worshipped in many ways, one can simply pray to him or join mass ceremonies held by the church. Sacrificing material goods to Deonach is rarely done. Since his physical form is broken he has no need of material possessions, instead every citizen is expected to dedicate their lives to the worship of their lord and to work hard for the betterment of all the Denur. Declaring saints is also something unheard of, since the Denur almost destroyed themselves if it was not for him, only Deonach deserves worship.