A Realm of Monsters.

[Cyclops08]

The idea just hit me. Its not a new idea. Xhorias by Matt Mercer is such a realm united by a religious philosophy. The world of Ebberon had a nation of monsters ruled by three hags.

The northern third of the continent is ruled by a monstrous empire that once ruled all of the continent but was reduced to its current borders by the humanoid heroes of a bygone age. The human nations that rose are in a constant state of readiness as attacks could happen at any time.

There is no contact or trade with this empire. Humanoids are either slaves of food. No one even knows who the emperor is. Only recently have the human realms discovered that tieflings can move about unmolested within this empire. All who have penetrated deep have disappeared.

(Stolen from the forgotten realms) Every 20 years the emperor lets a wave of over populated orcs sweep down in a genocidal attack. The orcs fight until they die. The empire encourages this with promises following a bloody and honorable death. The conquered are the rations of this gruesome army. The threat of this wave keeps the border areas empty and free of colonists who would otherwise support armies on its border.

a real war with the empire is a sight to be seen. Giants, dragons, hordes of goblins, all manor of monstrous beasts fill the ranks. Hobgoblin generals lead the empire's overwhelming forces.

slave raids are much more common. The empire prizes humanoid workers. They are superior to most monstrous craftsmen. Further the borderlands are stocked with unintelligent monsters and renegade tribes to destabilize the human nations.

More to come.
Still I have a question. who would you place as emperor? A skeksis would be fun. I'm thinking a lowly goblin inherited the throne from his brilliant father. He will eventually be deposed once monsters realize he is utterly incompetent. and a civil war will take place in the empire. The vast numbers of orcs will seize the opportunity and unleash their hordes to capture the ultimate prize.

[Pandamonium]

More to come.
Still I have a question. who would you place as emperor? A skeksis would be fun. I'm thinking a lowly goblin inherited the throne from his brilliant father. He will eventually be deposed once monsters realize he is utterly incompetent. and a civil war will take place in the empire. The vast numbers of orcs will seize the opportunity and unleash their hordes to capture the ultimate prize.

You could look to the established Obould Many-arrow from the forgotten Realms if you want some inspiration, both for the brilliant predecessor and who could rise up.

The Southern countries should fear a ruler might enough to unite the monsters and ambitious enough to march south in force.

[Cyclops08]

You could look to the established Obould Many-arrow from the forgotten Realms if you want some inspiration, both for the brilliant predecessor and who could rise up.
.

That is where I stole the idea from.

[Grim Portent]

What about having the empire be run by a regent's council because the actual emperor is missing or in seclusion?

Given the options for fantasy monsters the emperor could easily be a creature that doesn't die of old age, and perhaps one that periodically decides to seclude themselves from their subjects and spend some time, years or decades, plotting and scheming or just thinking about things.


So for example the emperor is/was a half-demon giant, nigh immortal and inclined to periods of expansion punctuated by retiring to the capitol to plan or to contemplate the nature of reality or paint still life paintings or some such. Sometimes during these quiet times they seal themselves in their chambers and refuse to see or speak to anyone, leaving the day to day affairs of the empire to the dragons, demons, giants and other monstrous lords. Eventually they always come back out, stride in full wargear to a great balcony overlooking their assembled vassals and proclaim a new era of expansion and war dedicated to the glory of the empire, and to the demons, dark gods and devils.

During these periods of isolation the lords of the empire dare not start a real war without their emperor's permission, instead encouraging the faster breeding or more restless races of the empire to swarm out periodically to engage in border conflicts, raiding parties, slaving exepditions and informal wars without the open support of the empire. On past occasions when the lords have tried to start a real war the emperor has removed himself from seclusion early, and struck down those lord's who tried to excercise greater authority than was given to them, withdrawn the empire's hordes from foreign lands suddenly and without explanation, then returned to seclusion.

At current the emperor has been in seclusion for a very long time, more than twice as long as normal, nearing eight decades without communicating with his vassals. The empire chafes to go to war, the hordes thirst for plunder and battle, the lords tire of wandering dusty halls and governing. The lords aren't willing to openly act, at least not yet, but whispers have begun to spread among them that this time perhaps the emperor isn't coming back from his chambers, that the time has come for the lords to rule the empire as they see fit.

[Cyclops08]

@ Grimm. Wow, that really works. and there is a threat of an internal civil war. I LIKE IT!