The Era of Late Conquest
~2,200 to ~2,000 Years Before Modern Geba
Recovery begins. Ashan'Kael lives longer than the emperors before him, then abdicates while he still has the clarity to hand the throne to Auren rather than die on it. The Varethis Advance hands imperial resources to the manufactories and starts the long slide toward decentralization. Genetic work stretches an already long life further still. In secret, and then in the open of Auren's court, Prince Daer creates the Engineered from Frost Sentinel DNA. Auren is the first emperor in six thousand years to decide the imperial machine has run out of purpose. The Reform comes at the end of the era. The knife comes after it.
Population
~56 billion
Gender Ratio
50:1 (Beginning of Recovery)
Culture
Genetic advancements, war fatigue, decentralization
Key Figures
Key Dates
- ~2,183 BMGAutonomous colonies are established in Kela.
- ~2,157 BMGThe Bare Hand is established by Imperator Kenez'Feraaz of Thazvaar.
- ~2,141 BMGThe Berinese-Thazvaari War erupts in northern Berinu.
- ~2,118 BMGAshan'Kael Varethis announces the Varethis Advance and the manufactories formalize, from Jeyrhan Bio-Engineering and Joxi to Solarn Legacy, Haavu, and Zhikhan.
- ~2,089 BMGThe first longevity treatments take hold. A natural span of roughly two hundred years begins climbing, and for those with access to imperial medicine it will approach four hundred within a century.
- ~2,071 BMGPrince Varethis'Daer Venar stabilizes organ transfer protocols before his second decade.
- ~2,053 BMGDaer secretly creates the first Engineered from Frost Sentinel DNA.
- ~2,027 BMGThe first Engineered are born naturally rather than made, and the first hybrids follow.
- ~2,008 BMGRather than wait to die, Ashan'Kael abdicates to his son Auren at two hundred and thirty two, older than any emperor before him and still lucid enough to manage the transition.
- ~2,004 BMGAuren's Reform. The Engineered are granted citizenship, land, families, and education, the 8-Year Rule is set, and the Tactician-Class is formalized.
- ~2,001 BMGDaer and Txisa Haavu-Solarn complete the first Recursion Bomb prototypes in western Ngorrhal, in the final years before the collapse.
Defining Traits
- Autonomous colonies are established in Kela, offering refuge and opportunity for ex-warlords, criminals, and outcasts across the empire.
- The Bare Hand, an elite corps of infiltrators and saboteurs trained for destabilization operations, is formally established by Imperator Kenez'Feraaz of Thazvaar.
- The Berinese-Thazvaari War erupts in northern Berinu after an ethnic Thazvaari official is elected in the Berinese capital of Binol, reigniting millennia-old ethnic tensions.
- Emperor Ashan'Kael Varethis redirects imperial priorities toward scientific and genetic advancement.
- Emperor Ashan'Kael Varethis announces The Varethis Advance, granting engineering and research groups direct access to imperial resources and permanently transforming the world economy.
- His son, Emperor Varethis'Auren Kel'varesh, pursues technological wonder, stellar exploration, and genetic perfection.
- Solarn Legacy Engineering begins developing experimental propulsion and rocket systems under imperial patronage.
- Prince Varethis'Daer Venar, a Velcrith Vessel, secretly creates the first generation of Engineered using the DNA of the Frost Sentinels as the genetic foundation.
- Several major engineering and research groups expand into official manufactories, improving accessibility and daily life across the empire.
- Attempted civil uprisings occur throughout multiple provinces as decentralization accelerates.
- During this era, several key manufacturers are officially established: