History
1600 years ago, the barbaric Human tribes far to the north began to coalesce into a single society. Ever-stronger warlords gained control over more people and territory, subjugating the weaker peoples in their regions and building larger and more powerful armies. By enslaving the dwarvish populace of the Everwall Mountains, they were able to obtain armor and forged weapons, thus increasing their capabilities for war immensely.
It took another 300 years for them to finally unite under one banner, that of the Vos-Dair-Az (Grand War Marshall) Jolokas ki Grilnas. His brilliance amongst his peers won him every major battle he ever fought. He parlayed this brilliance into political stratagems that ultimately created the Eleran m' Kal-a-nar, the Kal-a-nar Empire, with himself as its Emperor. (Note: Kal-a-nar means, literally, "The People of Glory.")
After many years of warfare against all who would oppose them, the Empire sprawls across vast distances. It dominates the northern part of the main continent, and it spreads out along the western side almost to the very southern end. Entire societies have been engulfed within its control, most of which have been turned into slave castes. Some of these people include the Youlin Aradi ("The People of the Sun") of the Eternal Desert, the Everwall Dwarves, and the Fae of the Forever Forest.
The Empire remains very militaristic in its design. The Tor-Eleran ("Army of the Empire") is the true power of the society, and Warlords rule over all. There are nobles, but only those with rank in the Army have any real standing. There is also a very strong caste structure within the Empire's society , and it is observed religiously. Women can achieve, but they must strive hard to do so (and still have limits as to how high they can go). However, there are no restrictions to women serving in the military. Non-humans, though, are (at best) slave labor.