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Sargon is one of Terra's oldest standing nations, once glorious and more or less hegemonic, but now stagnant and fighting to survive, even as many Sargonians cling to "Sargonian exceptionalism." Its official history, recorded in the fifty-volume Book of Sargon, says the first Sargonians were refugees fleeing Catastrophes who settled at what they believed was "land's end," forming settlements bound by the belief that they were the true heirs of Terra's civilization. They formed a loose confederation, and a group called the Aslan conquered many settlements, became its leaders, and founded the Sargon Empire after wars against hostile creatures from the south. The Empire grew diverse by embracing conquered cultures and recognizing local rulers.
Under Shahanshah Lugalszargus, the "Shah of Past and Future," who reigned from 25 BTC to 15 TC after ascending the throne at age ten, Sargon reached unmatched strength. He quelled the "Revolt of the Three Lions," expanded territory, and is credited with inventing the modern calendar. In Terran Calendar 14, the Nightzmora Army under Kharanduu Khagan invaded; both sides were then attacked by strange enemies from the south, forcing a temporary alliance. A final battle ended in a mysterious explosion that made the Shahanshah and the Khagan disappear and created the Foehn Hotlands, an uninhabitable, heat-blasted wasteland that altered Terra's climate. Afterward, Sargon declined. Aslan branches outside the direct succession exodused to Victoria, and the northern Vouivre region gradually gained autonomy.
Sargon lies in Terra's southwest, divided by mountains into eastern rainforests and western deserts. The Shahanshah, always an Aslan, holds full power over the military and government, assisted by a bloated Court. Officials enter through exams, noble appointment, or organizational representation. Provinces are governed by Padishahs, with Lords Ameer below them; the Empire demands only allegiance, so local rulers hold real power. The capital, Shar-Agade, is a sealed "Golden City" entered only by invitation, with departures bound to secrecy. The Zhayedan, an army answering only to the Shahanshah, is forged from warriors via Sarkaz sorcery and Originium Arts.
Sargon's land-focused economy stagnates, with reform blocked by nobles and bureaucracy, though some regions adopt foreign technologies. Society is conservative and culturally tolerant, the infected are harshly ostracized, and its poetry, centered on true love and life's meaning, has influenced Minos and Victoria.
Separately, the Nightzmora, a Kuranta Elder branch, followed a tradition of solitary "Khaganquest" journeys. Kharanduu Khagan unified the grasslands and conquered the Hippogryphs' kingdom, Kazimierz's Pegasi, Lower Gaul, and beyond, toppling old orders and reshaping civilization before perishing in the Foehn Hotlands.
The Sargon Empire is one of the oldest nations still standing on Terra, a superpower with far-reaching influence. It is a diverse, inclusive, and tolerant country with a vibrant culture. Sargon was once glorious and more or less hegemonic, and traces of Sargonian civilization appear in many regions’ traditional cultures. After a series of unfortunate events, however, it fell into stagnation, and today the Empire fights to maintain her power base as external forces shake her fragile foundation. Still, many Sargonians believe in “Sargonian exceptionalism”—the idea that Sargon was, is, and always will be the most powerful nation in Terra.
In Terran Calendar 965, the authorities released the fifty-volume Book of Sargon to celebrate Shahanshah Lugalszargus’s one-thousandth birthday. It recounts the official history: 15,000 years ago, a dozen exhausted scouts emerged from the Acahuallan jungle to find grasslands and, beyond them, endless yellow sand. They served refugees—victims of the land’s wrath—who had traveled thousands of miles seeking a safe home. The desert’s ever-shifting dunes made them believe they had reached the edge of the great land, and they called their companions to settle there. More people migrated, carrying knowledge, stories, and memories. The settlers found this new land also suffered Catastrophes but could not cross the desert again; their descendants banded together, and Sargon was born.
Setting aside the unverifiable “fifteen thousand years,” the story holds one key truth: the first Sargonians were all refugees from other lands. In a time too ancient to trace, refugees who had witnessed what is believed to be the earliest recorded Catastrophe fled southwest and settled at what they believed was “land’s end.” The region was vast and favorable, and numerous distinct settlements arose. Despite cultural differences, all shared one belief: they were the true heirs to Terra’s civilization.
On this shared conviction they formed a loose confederation to rebuild human civilization. A group calling themselves “Aslan” conquered many settlements and led the alliance—later known as the earliest form of the Sargon Empire. When settlers encountered hostile, powerful, uncommunicable creatures far to the south, they formed a defensive line; the Aslans stood out as the strongest warriors and commanders. The confederation solidified into a military alliance with the Aslans as de facto rulers, who established the first cities on Terra and laid the foundation of the Sargon Empire. Under Aslan rule the Empire continually expanded, retaining local political traditions, embracing conquered cultures, and recognizing local rulers—making Sargon a diverse nation.
During the forty-year reign of Lugalszargus, the “Shah of Past and Future,” the Empire was stable and powerful. In the thirty-ninth year of his rule (Terran Calendar 14), the Nightzmora Army under Kharanduu Khagan launched an expedition to Sargon. During the fierce battle, both sides were attacked by strange enemies from the south; the Aslans and Nightzmora allied and marched south. After months of grueling combat they wiped out most of the enemy, but a mysterious massive explosion in the final battle made the Shahanshah—who had personally led the campaign—disappear. Fewer than one in ten Nightzmora survived, scattered to the winds. The explosion raised temperatures so dramatically that the area became uninhabitable and was renamed “the Foehn Hotlands.”
The Hotlands’ emergence and the Shahanshah’s disappearance profoundly affected the Empire. The shared goal of defeating a common enemy had been Sargon’s foundation, and with the enemy gone it crumbled; the loss of the legitimate monarch escalated factional struggles among the Aslan imperial households. The Hotlands altered the climate and displaced many. The Aslans eventually stabilized the situation, but the Empire’s strength was drained and it entered steady decline. Aslan branches outside the direct line of succession left in a carefully planned exodus for Victoria; the reigning Shahanshah initially welcomed fewer opposing factions, but by the time he grasped the plot it was too late. Sargon’s control over border regions weakened, and over centuries the northern Vouivre region gradually broke away and gained autonomy.
Cross-referenced records confirm the Foehn Hotlands first appeared in Terran Calendar 15. Once a small desert, they are now a barren wasteland of extreme heat where survival is impossible; humans have never traversed them, and they send hot, dry winds northward, affecting Terra’s climate.
Sargon lies in Terra’s southwestern corner. Her longest river flows from northeast to southwest, forming a southern delta known as “the cradle of Sargonian civilization.” A north–south mountain range divides the land into tropical rainforests in the eastern lowlands and arid deserts in the western highlands. Sargon’s monarchical traditions have influenced the political systems of countries like Victoria, Iberia, Gaul, Leithanien, and Ursus.
The supreme ruler, the Shahanshah (King of Kings), inherits the crown through the Aslan imperial household; his full title illustrates Sargon’s prolonged wars of annexation and the monarch’s role as overlord of the regions. Only an Aslan may hold the title, a tradition unbroken for thousands of years. The Shahanshah wields full control over the military and government, assisted by the bloated Sargonian Court of ministers and advisers; all officials are directly appointed by him.
There are three ways to become an official: passing the rigorous civil exam, being granted a noble title and appointed, or serving as a representative of an organization such as the Masonry Brotherhood or a trade guild. Civil servants’ influence is limited by nobles with real military power. Sargon is not keen on diplomacy; foreign powers often deal directly with the Padishahs and Lords Ameer.
The capital, Shar-Agade, remains a mystery even to most Sargonians. Legends describe a “Golden City” in a vast desert oasis, where the Shahanshah and his court direct all affairs; in reality it is a sealed-off ancient city where only the invited may enter and most may not leave. Every new Padishah must travel there for official canonization; those permitted to depart are sworn to secrecy about its location under threat of severe retribution.
The rest of the territory is divided into provinces administered by the military and governed by Padishahs with civilian powers. Each province consists of territories ruled by Lords Ameer, who oversee local rulers. The Empire shows little interest in a unified system of governance, focusing solely on ensuring local rulers swear allegiance; local governments vary greatly, so Sargon’s control over its regions is relatively weak.
Sargon’s tradition of granting titles—some hereditary, some not—arose because the Shahanshah could no longer directly govern his vast territories during rapid expansion, and he delegated courtly titles so local leaders could rule on his behalf. Nobles do not own their land—the land belongs to the Shahanshah—so Sargon’s nobility merely exercises authority granted by him. Padishahs serve as provincial governors and senior military commanders; Lords Ameer rank below them, overseeing regional communities pledged to the Empire. In daily life, local rulers often hold the most authority.
Those living in the wilderness outside nomadic cities and major settlements are called “tribesfolk,” most dwelling deep in rainforests or distant desert oases, maintaining customs hundreds or thousands of years old; many communities lack modern Originium technology. City Sargonians view them as esteemed members of the Empire, though many tribesfolk do not see themselves as Sargonians.
Sargon’s legal system, generally considered the origin of positive law, does not cover all social life. Lords Ameer may issue their own decrees provided these do not conflict with Sargonian law. The military comprises the salaried standing army—standardized, few in number, defending cities and conducting offensives—and conscripted forces drafted in wartime by governing nobles. The “Zhayedan” (immortal army), reporting only to the Shahanshah, is forged from powerful warriors using ancient Sarkaz sorcery and specialized Originium Arts.
Sargon relies heavily on land resources, with agriculture the main economic driver—one reason for its stagnation. Shahanshahs have sought to improve the economy, but entrenched nobility and cumbersome bureaucracy have stymied reform; the economy is sinking into the “quagmire of former glory.” Recently, the imperial city and surroundings have adopted foreign technologies, but there has been little response elsewhere.
Sargonian culture blends diverse traditions; the Empire neither can nor tries to enforce a unified culture, since annexed areas were required only to recognize the Shahanshah as overlord, fostering tolerance for local cultural preservation. Society is highly conservative, avoiding disruption of what works and fearing the unknown. Most people live in river valleys and eastern rainforests, in fixed settlements; nomadic cities are uncommon. Only recently, with expanding foreign trade, have inhabitants begun calling themselves “Sargonians.” Society divides into commoners and nobles. Schools educate scholars to select future officials. Attitudes toward Oripathy vary slightly, but generally the infected are ostracized, often through harsh and violent methods.
Poetry is a cultural treasure; thousands of Sargonian poems have spread across Terra. Poets pursue true love and life’s meaning, with roses and wine as recurring motifs. Minos and Victoria have been deeply influenced by Sargon’s poetry.
The section closes with the tale of Kharanduu Khagan. While the Pegasus of the Golden Bloodline walled off the plains, another branch of the Kuranta Bloodline roamed the ancient grasslands called “Ancestral Gaze”—the Nightzmora, heirs of the Kuranta Elders. Adulthood came not with age but through a solitary journey, the “Khaganquest.” A young hunter called Daladai, captivated by tribesmen’s tales of stone cities and golden shores, unified the grassland under his blade and was honored as Kharanduu Khagan. His true Khaganquest became conquering the lands beyond the plains to reach the ends of the earth.
His first target was the Liberi Hippogryphs’ kingdom, defended by mountain fortresses and resilient Ursus subjects. The Khagan exploited the Hippogryphs’ arrogance and the Ursus’s discontent. When the Hippogryphs burned Ursus settlements in a scorched-earth policy, he sent drunken warriors to taunt them; enraged Hippogryphs charged out wildly while the Ursus defected, and the “invincible” army fell. Deity Grypherburg fell, the Hippogryphs knelt and paid tribute, and their increased oppression of the Ursus continued until Igor raised the rebel flag and toppled them.
Next the Nightzmora met the Pegasus in the west. Kazimierz’s proud knights charged through illusory enemy lines conjured by Nightzmora Arts; when the illusions faded, the Pegasi were surrounded and cut down by the Kheshig. The Pegasus royal family never recovered; the Knights of Kazimierz declared their rule illegitimate and replaced them. The Nightzmora then forced Lower Gaul’s warrior nobles to surrender the central river valley, and the Dracos of Victoria retreated south to Londinium, turning weapons on their kin in Tara.
Halted by dense rainforests, the Nightzmora rested—and a Sargon royal envoy arrived. The Shahanshah welcomed the Khagan as a long-awaited guest, proposing he march south through the jungle for a battle for the ages. Many Padishahs fiercely resisted the Nightzmora pillaging; the jungle’s Manticore assassins and miasma exacted a bloody toll. Still, the Khagan’s banner rose before the Shahanshah—opposed by the Zhayedan. In the brutal battle, inhuman abominations suddenly appeared, making any earthly terror pale. The Shahanshah and the Khagan charged toward the source of the abominations. The war culminated in a catastrophic annihilation wiping out both leaders and their armies; the radiation left behind created the Foehn Hotlands.
The expedition also reshaped civilization. His army’s iron hooves shattered the old social order, displacing populations who formed new settlements. The practice of forming elite personal guards from nobles’ heirs may derive from the Kheshig tradition. With crowns severed and palaces burned, the meaning of power was rewritten: the Hippogryphs fell, the Pegasi no longer ruled the knights, and with Dracos’ internal strife the stage was set for the Aslans to seize Victoria centuries later. Across the Khagan’s path the divine right of the Elders to rule was questioned and broken—ironically by the Nightzmora, themselves of Elder lineage. Thus the glorious Nightzmora Army reshaped civilization, even as Kharanduu Khagan’s Khaganquest faded like a long sigh into the setting sun and drifting sands.
How should I introduce Sargon, a place that is foreign to everyone, yet still feels so familiar? Deserts, rainforests, dreamy ancient cities, the distant past... we all have a faint outline of Sargon etched into our subconscious... but where to start? After pondering the matter for a long while, an old ballad from my school days suddenly popped into my head. I'm including an excerpt of it here as the forward to this chapter to set the mood and provide some context.
...Who can escape their fate? We all have an appetite for destruction; our lives are winding paths laden with thorns and endless sorrow. Bring me my wine! Let me fall asleep slowly with rose petals and tears. —“Crying with the Thorns” (A famous poem in Sargon)
The Sargon Empire is one of the oldest nations still standing on Terra, a sharp-elbowed superpower with far-reaching influence. The Empire has a diverse population and vibrant culture; she is an inclusive, tolerant country. Sargon was once glorious and more or less hegemonic; traces of Sargonian civilization are visible in the traditional cultures of many different regions. However, after a series of unfortunate events, Sargon fell into stagnation. Today, the Empire is fighting to maintain her power base and ensure her survival, as external forces shake her already fragile foundation. Still, many Sargonians firmly believe in “Sargonian exceptionalism”, the idea that Sargon was, is, and always will be the most powerful nation in Terra.
In Terran Calendar 965, the Sargonian authorities released the fifty-volume Book of Sargon to celebrate Shahanshah Lugalszargus’s one-thousandth birthday. These volumes recount Sargon’s official history, from its origins to the present day. One hot morning 15,000 years ago, a dozen exhausted warriors, their supplies nearly depleted, emerged from the Acahuallan jungle. In front of them lay sparse grasslands, and, in the distance, an endless expanse of yellow sand, while behind them loomed the dense and dangerous rainforest. These men served as scouts for a group of wandering refugees. These poor souls, victims of the land’s wrath, had traveled thousands of miles in search of a safe place to settle down. The desert was astonishing to them—they had never seen such a monotonous, yet ever-changing landscape. The wind twisted and sculpted the sand dunes, and after the grains settled, entirely new formations appeared. Those who witnessed this scene believed they had reached the edge of this great land, and they called their companions to come live with them there. Over time, more and more people migrated to the desert’s outskirts and the oases within, carrying with them knowledge, stories, and memories from their homelands. They made this region their new home. The settlers eventually discovered that this new land was also plagued by Catastrophes but lacked the strength to cross the desert again. Their descendants began to band together and live as one, and thus, Sargon was born.
A Sargonian Dinar. Many Lords Ameer see minting coins as a symbol of their power, which is why Sargon’s coin designs are so varied. This gold coin is my favorite. I’m not sure which Lord Ameer minted it, but it features a beautiful rose.
Putting aside the “fifteen thousand years” figure—which is an approximation that we cannot verify—the story, with all its literary embellishments, provides us with at least one key truth: the first Sargonians were all refugees from other lands. In a time too ancient to trace, a group of refugees witnessed what is believed to be the earliest recorded Catastrophe in history. In sheer terror, they scattered, fleeing southwest across the land to escape certain annihilation. They crossed mountains and rivers, finally reaching what they believed to be “land’s end”, and settled there. The region was vast, with favorable living conditions, and the number of settlers quickly grew, as did the land they cultivated. The burgeoning population gave rise to numerous distinct settlements. Despite their cultural differences, these communities shared one common belief: they considered themselves the true heirs to Terra’s civilization.
Based on this shared conviction, they formed a loose confederation with the goal of rebuilding human civilization in this land, which they saw as their solemn duty. During this process, a group calling themselves “Aslan” conquered many of the other settlements by various means and became the leaders of the alliance. This group would later become known as the earliest form of the “Sargon Empire”.
The settlers gradually expanded their range of activity, eventually encountering a hostile and powerful group of unknown creatures far to the south. These beasts were extremely dangerous—they actively attacked any settlers they came across, and there was no way to communicate with them. The strange assaults forced the settlers to respond. They set up a defensive line and mobilized their forces to directly confront the gravest threat they had encountered since they first formed the confederation. The Aslans once again stood out during this battle; many of their members became the strongest and most reliable warriors and commanders in the army.
Years later, this loose group of communities solidified into something akin to a military alliance, with the Aslans becoming the de facto ruler. After gaining control of the military and the government, the Aslans decided to unite the entire confederation under their rule to better coordinate resources and defend against external threats. They established the first cities on Terra, which laid the foundation for them to create the Sargon Empire.
The Empire continually expanded under Aslan rule. The Aslan retained the political traditions of their various communities, embraced the cultures of newly conquered regions, and recognized local rulers, all of which made the Sargon Empire a diverse nation.
During the reign of Lugalszargus, revered by later generations as the “Shah of Past and Future”, the Sargon Empire was stable and powerful. Over his forty-year reign, Lugalszargus managed the Empire’s expansion and quashed internal rebellions, forging a stronger and more united Sargon than ever before. In the thirty-ninth year of his rule (Terran Calendar 14), the Nightzmora Army, led by Kharanduu Khagan, launched an expedition to Sargon. A fierce battle ensued, but suddenly, both sides were fiercely attacked by strange enemies from the south. The Aslans and Nightzmora formed a temporary alliance and marched south to confront their common foe. It was a battle for the ages. After months of grueling combat, the Sargon Empire and the Nightzmora Army managed to wipe out most of the enemy forces. However, during the final battle, there was a mysterious, massive explosion; the Shahanshah of Sargon, who had personally led the campaign, disappeared in the blast. The Nightzmora suffered heavy casualties—fewer than one in ten survived, and those who did scattered to the four winds. The explosion caused a dramatic rise in temperature, rendering the area completely uninhabitable. In fact, the locals renamed it “the Foehn Hotlands”.
After the war, the emergence of the Foehn Hotlands and the disappearance of the Shahanshah had a profound impact on the Sargon Empire. The shared goal of defeating a common enemy had been the foundation upon which Sargon was built, but with the enemy gone, that foundation crumbled. At the same time, the loss of
The legendary Shahanshah of Sargon, known as the “Shah of Past and Future”, full name: Lugalszargus Szarrum-Szuszurum-Labiru-U-Aḫritu, reigned from 25 BTC to 15 TC. This great ruler ascended to the throne at the tender age of ten. Court officials and nobles were doubtful of his ability to rule at such a young age, and many plotted rebellions in secret. However, Lugalszargus quickly adapted to his role as Shahanshah, demonstrating remarkable talent and skill across many fields.
In the year 20 BTC, when Lugalszargus was fifteen years old, seventeen Lords Ameer and three Aslan Padishahs rebelled in what became known as the “Revolt of the Three Lions”. The Shahanshah swiftly quelled the internal strife and redistributed the lands of the rebellious tribes. Lugalszargus seized this opportunity to purge opposition within the court. Over the following years, he personally led many military campaigns, expanding Sargon’s territory further north. The new, loyal officials Lugalszargus appointed to the court proved highly effective, and the Empire entered an unprecedented period of strength and prosperity. In 15 TC, Lugalszargus and Kharanduu Khagan disappeared together during a military campaign, never to be seen again.
Terra’s people revere Lugalszargus as the “Shah of the Past and Future” because it is widely believed that he invented the modern calendar, which is now used across all of Terra. Today, Lugalszargus is revered across Terra as a wise ruler, a celebrated general, and a brilliant scientist. After his disappearance, Sargon never again experienced such glory and unity. While later rulers have attempted to restore the Empire’s greatness, none has ever accomplished as much as Lugalszargus.
the legitimate monarch quickly escalated the factional struggles between the Aslan imperial household. The newly formed Foehn Hotlands brought extremely high temperatures, significantly altering the climate of the region, leaving many people displaced. Eventually, the Aslans stabilized the situation, and the Sargon Empire managed to survive, but its strength was drained; it fell into a steady decline. After years of struggling to keep the Empire together, the divisions between the Aslan imperial households spiraled out of control.
The Aslan branches outside the direct line of succession left in batches, heading for Victoria as part of a carefully planned exodus. At first, the reigning Shahanshah believed this was an isolated event; he even told his close advisors he was relieved that there would be fewer opposing factions. However, by the time he realized the full extent of the plot, it was too late. From that point on, the Sargon Empire's control over its border regions was significantly weakened. Over the next several hundred years, the northern Vouivre region gradually broke away from Sargon and gained autonomy.
The Foehn Hotlands are younger than most other ancient desert regions. Cross-referencing historical records from multiple nations confirms that the Foehn Hotlands first appeared in Terran Calendar 15. This area was once a small desert, but it has since transformed into a barren wasteland, where the extreme heat makes survival impossible. Humans have yet to traverse the Foehn Hotlands, and as such, little is known about the ecosystem within or what lies beyond them. Additionally, the Hotlands have had a significant impact on Terra's overall climate. Since their emergence, they have continuously sent hot, dry winds northward across the land.
Sargon is located in the southwestern corner of the known lands of Terra, a vast expanse of territory that stretches across many different regions. Her longest river flows from the northeast to the southwest, crossing the entire nation and forming a delta in the southern coastal region that is known as "the cradle of Sargonian civilization".
A mountain range runs from north to south, dividing Sargon into two vastly different areas: tropical rainforests in the eastern lowlands and arid deserts in the western highlands. The closer one gets to the Foehn Hotlands in the south, the higher the temperature becomes.
Sargonian Climate Zone Distribution Chart
Sargon is an ancient land, and her monarchical traditions have greatly influenced the political systems of countries like Victoria, Iberia, Gaul, Leithanien, and Ursus, just to name a few.
The supreme ruler of the Sargon Empire, the Shahanshah (King of Kings, or Emperor in Victorian), inherits his crown through the Aslan imperial household.
The Shahanshah of Sargon’s full title is “Almighty Ruler, King of Kings, Monarch of Monarchs, Lord of All Lands, Power of All Provinces”. These titles clearly illustrate a few key points: Sargon experienced prolonged wars of annexation during its formation; the Sargon monarch is, in essence, the overlord of the various regions within the nation; and the ruler bestows glory upon his subordinate officials across the land. This also helps explain the Sargonians’ longstanding sense of superiority and disdain toward other regions, as they believe that the only true master of all kings is the Shahanshah. The title of “Shahanshah” can only be held by a member of the Aslan imperial household, a tradition that has continued unbroken for thousands of years.
The Shahanshah wields full control over Sargon’s military and government. The Sargonian Court assists the Shahanshah in governing national affairs and is composed of his ministers and advisers. All officials at every level of government are directly appointed by the Shahanshah.
The Court is an extremely bloated and oversized organization, owing mainly to Sargon’s vast territory and population. From the Imperial Ministers at the Shahanshah’s side to the Messengers dispatched across Sargon, all are members of the Court. These loyal officials shoulder significant responsibilities. Their primary duties include assisting the Shahanshah in all affairs, analyzing situations both big and small, ensuring the smooth operation of the Empire’s administration, and conveying the monarch’s will throughout the realm.
There are three ways to become a Sargonian official: 1) Passing the rigorous civil exam to enter the bureaucracy. 2) Being granted a noble title and appointed as an official. 3) Serving as a representative of an organization, such as the Masonry Brotherhood or a trade guild.
Typically, those selected through the first method and promoted within the bureaucracy are civil servants responsible for handling administrative tasks and verifying data. In theory, these bureaucrats could form factions within the Court and amass significant power. However, in practice, the influence of these civil servants is strictly limited by nobles who wield real military power and hold high status across the regions. Though conditions vary slightly by region, generally, bureaucrats in local court systems serve as emissaries of the Shahanshah, working alongside the nobles.
Additionally, the Sargon Empire is not particularly keen on diplomacy, viewing it as a relatively unimportant part of political affairs. Foreign powers often deal directly with the various Padishahs and Lords Ameer of Sargon when seeking cooperation.
Sargon’s capital city, Shar-Agade, remains a mystery, even to most Sargonians. Throughout Sargon, there are legends about the “Golden City” or “City of Gold”, where the imperial bloodline of the Shahanshah has supposedly resided for generations in a vast oasis deep within the desert. The city is said to be filled with sparkling springs and gleaming gold. The tall palace stretches toward the sky, and within it, the Shahanshah and his court oversee and direct all Sargonian affairs. In reality, Shar-Agade is far less fantastical. It is a sealed-off ancient city, where only those invited are permitted to enter, and most who arrive are not allowed to leave. Typically, every newly appointed Padishah must go there to be officially canonized by the Shahanshah before assuming their duties in their assigned region. Some commoners who have distinguished themselves through exceptional achievements are also given the opportunity to live in the capital, but they are not allowed to leave. Those who are permitted to depart the Golden City are sworn to strict secrecy about its exact location, under threat of severe retribution from Sargon if they reveal it.
The capital, Shar-Agade, is governed directly by the Shahanshah, while the rest of Sargon’s territory is divided into several provinces. These provinces are essentially administered by the military and governed by Padishahs with civilian powers. Each province consists of territories ruled by various Lords Ameer, who also oversee local rulers within their domains, such as lords and elders.
The Sargon Empire shows little interest in creating a unified system of governance, focusing solely on ensuring that these local rulers swear allegiance to the Empire. Local governments vary greatly in structure and titling. As a result, Sargon exercises relatively weak control over its regions, with Padishahs, Lords Ameer, and local rulers holding the real power.
Sargon has a political tradition in which the Empire grants various titles, some hereditary and some not, to local rulers of different regions, recognizing them as part of the Sargonian Court in order to strengthen control over these areas. This practice, which eventually gave rise to Sargon's noble system, is closely tied to Sargon's history of constant warfare. At some point during the Empire's rapid expansion, the Shahanshah was no longer able to directly govern the vast territories under his rule, even though the smaller nations and tribes that had voluntarily joined the Empire were eagerly awaiting his orders. As a result, the Shahanshah delegated courtly titles to local leaders, allowing them to maintain control on his behalf. Today, this has evolved into a complex system that includes both hereditary positions and honorary titles. Nobles do not directly own their land, but they are granted the authority to govern it and collect taxes—the land itself still belongs to the Shahanshah. Unlike in Victoria and Leithanien, where nobles hold significant governing power, Sargon's nobility simply exercises the authority granted by the Shahanshah.
Aside from the Shahanshah, the most prominent officials in Sargon are the "Padishahs" and "Lords Ameer". Padishahs serve as governors of provinces and senior military commanders, and their title can be either hereditary or non-hereditary. For most people, the Padishah of their province is the highest-ranking official they will encounter. Padishahs are crucial to the Sargon Empire, managing local affairs and ensuring peace and security in the provinces. Lords Ameer are military and political officials who oversee regional communities in Sargon. They are a rank below the Padishahs. The amount of control they have over their territories varies. Each community is organized differently, but they all share one common characteristic: they are subordinate to their Lord Ameer and pledge allegiance to the Sargon Empire. The Empire is home to a wide range of officials with different roles and powers, but they all accept the canonization and rule of the Shahanshah. Despite this, in practice, local rulers often hold the most authority in the daily lives of their constituents.
The people of Sargon refer to those living outside the nomadic cities and major settlements in the wilderness as "tribesfolk". Most tribesfolk live deep in the rainforests or in distant desert oases. The tribes have maintained customs and ways of life that date back hundreds, or even thousands, of years. Many communities still lack modern Originium technology. This isn't to say that Sargonians in nomadic cities look down on the tribesfolk. On the contrary, they view them as esteemed members of the Sargon Empire. However, many tribesfolk do not see themselves as Sargonians. They are more focused on day-to-day survival and feel little connection to a faraway empire.
In recent years, Sargonian tribesfolk have appeared more frequently in films and fashion; they are often depicted as the stereotypical stone clubs wielders, naked, and covered in body paint. Children in Laterano have even started playing games where they pretend to be "clubmen"—their name for the tribesfolk that they likely borrowed from a cartoon—dancing and singing around pretend campfires with sticks in hand.
Meanwhile, deep in the Sargon rainforests, the real tribesfolk remain unaware of these portrayals, preoccupied with finding their next meal.
(People) 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 500 BTC 500 1000 (YEAR)
A chart of the number of Lords Ameer over time, based on official Imperial data. After the Foehn Hollands event in Terran Calendar 15, when the Shahanshah disappeared, the number of Lords Ameer sharply declined, only to rapidly increase again shortly afterward. In 797, with the emergence of nomadic city technology and Sargon's entry into modern society, the number of Lords Ameer skyrocketed due to the chaotic management and a bloated bureaucracy.
Sargon's legal system has a long history and is generally considered to be the origin of positive law. However, the Sargonian legal framework is relatively broad and does not cover all aspects of social life. The Shahanshah grants the Lords Ameer the authority to issue their own decrees within their territories, provided these do not conflict with Sargonian law. This flexibility allows them to tailor the laws to suit local conditions. The entire legal system is overseen by government officials, with law enforcement usually handled by local bureaucrats or military personnel.
Sargon's military is composed of two main parts: the salaried standing army and the conscripted forces. The standing army is technically employed by the Shah-anshah, with relatively standardized equipment, and is commanded by military officers. These troops undergo regular training and are responsible for maintain-ing day-to-day operations and protecting the nobility; their numbers are relatively small. In times of war, the standing army is mainly responsible for defending cities and conducting military offensives.
As their name suggests, the conscripted forces are drafted during wartime by the nobles who govern their territory, in response to the Shahanshah' call to arms. The combat effectiveness of these forces depends entirely on how well the nobles have equipped and trained them. Typically, wealthier nobles or those hoping to profit from opportunistic wars are able to field stronger armies.
A key feature of Sargon's military is its strong administrative backing, with non-combat personnel organized under military principles to offer various support services. Additionally, local communities in Sargon typically maintain their own small-scale military units.
The "Zhayedan" (immortal army) is the only Sargonian army that reports only to the Shahanshah. This undying army is forged from powerful warriors using ancient Sarkaz sorcery and specialized Originium Arts. Each year, Padis-hahs from across the land select volunteers to undergo training to join the Zhayedan. Stories and legends about the Zhayedan are widespread throughout Terra. They are portrayed as silent warriors marching in unison under an ancient banner, its fabric waving in stride. When the Zhayedan appears before you, if you hold your breath and listen, you can hear echoes of ancient times, and if you look in the distance, towards the Shahanshah's palace, you'll see deep shad-ows spill forth, turning the horizon into an inky blackness.
Sargon is heavily reliant on land resources; agriculture is the main driver of its economy. This is also one of the main reasons for Sargon's stagnation. Through-out the vast empire, economic conditions vary widely between regions, influenced by the local autonomy exercised by the Padishahs. In some areas, more effective governance leads to better economic outcomes, while others struggle due to misman-agement. Over the years, various Shahanshahs have sought to improve Sargon's overall economy, but the entrenched nobility and cumbersome bureaucracy have stymied all attempts at reform. As it stands, Sargon's economy is sinking deeper into what is called the "quagmire of former glory".
In recent years, some regions, particularly the imperial city and its surrounding areas (directly governed by the Shahanshah), have begun to adopt foreign tech-nologies and production methods. The Shahanshah and his technocrats envision a top-down transformation to rejuvenate the aging empire. However, aside from a few Padishahs tasked with defending the borders, there has been little response to the Shahanshah's call. Overall, Sargon's economy remains mired in stagnation, but it has not be harmed enough to spur drastic changes in policy.
■ The Shahanshah may be determined to reform Sargon's economy, but one look inside a Sargonian merchant's money box will tell you that his efforts are futile.
Sargonian culture is a blend of diverse traditions, while many regions also retain their own unique customs. The Empire is incapable of enforcing a single, unified culture, nor does it attempt to do so. This stems from a governing structure that has endured for thousands of years. Historically, when the Sargon Empire annexed other nations and regions, their sole requirement was for the conquered areas to recognize the Shahanshah as overlord. This long-standing practice has fostered a tolerant attitude with regards to local cultural preservation.
Many Sargonians are inclined to maintain the natural environment in its original state; they believe that safeguarding the resources passed down from their ancestors is a rational and wise approach. Environmental degradation can radically alter a civilization's entire way of life, rendering centuries-old knowledge and traditions obsolete, which many in Sargon find unacceptable. Overall, Sargonian society is highly conservative, inclined to avoid disrupting what already works. People show little interest in things that could change their way of life because they fear the unknown.
Most Sargonians live in the river valleys and eastern rainforests. Most of the population resides in fixed settlements; nomadic cities are uncommon in Sargon. Sargonians generally see the Shahanshah as the only legitimate authority, and the concept of "nation state" holds little significance to them. It has only been in recent years, as Sargon has expanded its foreign trade, that the inhabitants have started referring to themselves as "Sargonians". To them, it's simply a convenient label for outsiders and holds little meaning. The people of Sargon are generally divided into two groups: commoners and nobles. The noble title system is highly complex, but those who possess titles are always directly under the rule of the Empire and hold some degree of political power.
Sargon has set up schools across the nation to educate scholars, with the goal of selecting future officials from among them. These schools are a mix of government-run institutions and private academies. Recently, some Padishahs and Lords Ameer have begun adopting foreign educational models to teach knowledge from outside Sargon's traditional curriculum. While attitudes towards Oripathy and the infected vary slightly between regions, the general approach remains the same: infected individuals are ostracized from society, often through harsh and violent methods.
Sargon's towns resemble giant anthills, layered with the marks of centuries of habitation. Mudbrick walls built centuries ago are patched up with new cloth tents stitched just yesterday. People repair and maintain the legacy of their ancestors, generation after generation, until Catastrophe or war wipes everything away.
In Sargon, Poetry is a cultural treasure passed down through generations. Thousands of poems from all over Sargon have already spread across Terra. The pursuit of true love and the search for meaning in life are the topics Sargonian poets are most passionate about; roses and wine are recurring motifs. Sargon's poetry is incredibly diverse, ranging from epic hero tales, philosophical poems, and narrative poetry to short lyrical pieces. Minos and Victoria, which are both famous for their poetry, have been deeply influenced by Sargon.
Sargon once stood in glory, leaving a lasting imprint on cultures across Terra. But over time, it became trapped in the shadow of its former greatness. Today, Sargon is seeking ways to break free, though it will take time to regain its strength.
EPIGRAPH
A specialty store for competition knight merchandise, now bathed in an unsettling red glow from its signs. Outside, at the end of a narrow alley, a man in his thirties leans drunkenly against the wall, wearing a bizarre, faceless mask adorned with strange patterns that seem to mock the passersby. Loose plastic armor, spray-painted with metallic colors, hangs haphazardly on him, barely covering his patterned shorts. The bustling street seems to ignore his presence. The constant opening and closing of the glass door produces an annoying creak, and amidst the noisy conversations, one can make out talk of the Kazimierz Major. One name is repeated over and over—Nightmare Knight, Nightmare Knight, Nightmare Knight. This store specializes in Nightmare Knight merchandise. Ever since this eccentric independent knight made waves at the tournament, his distinctive style has become a profitable asset that businesses are eager to capitalize on. His fanatical followers and imitators may not know Nightmare Knight's true history, but what they do know is that he's cool. In truth, perhaps no one knows that history anymore. The ancient Khagan's conquests, which spanned across the land, have faded into the realm of legend. Although the deep impacts it left—geographical, political, social, and cultural—can still be seen today, the people who actually lived through that war have been forgotten. Were there blood-soaked fields and homes consumed by fire along the path of conquest? Were there screams piercing enough to rend souls? Did the horrific stench overwhelm the senses? I do not believe that a war from a thousand years ago could be more romanticized or less brutal, yet I also suspect that the atrocities I listed are but commonplaces. What suffering did this war end, and what more did it leave behind? We may never know. All that remains visible is the legendary image of the conqueror: Behold, the great Nightzmora Khagan, sets forth on his journey that will forever alter the land. —A handwritten note slipped between the pages of a historical journal, just before the popular account of the Nightzmoran Conquests. Author unknown.
When the Pegasus of the Golden Bloodline walled off the vast plains, turning them into enclosed fields and courtyards, another branch of the Kuranta Bloodline roamed the ancient grasslands known as "Ancestral Gaze", no longer content with its expansiveness.
Spreading their life's journey across the entire plain was an ancient tradition of the eastern Kuranta tribes, heir of the Kuranta Elders who called themselves the "Nightzmora". The members of the Nightzmora could live for decades and still be considered children. This is because in their clan, the true path to adulthood was not the passage of time but a solitary journey known as the "Khaganquest".
One young Nightzmora hunter went by "Daladai", a name that evoked visions of distant lands. As he listened to the tribe members' stories of their ten winters on the Khaganquest, it was as if his soul had been seized by a powerful dream. Beyond the plains, cities built of stone rose between mountains and rivers, their lights illu-minating the desolate lands like stars in the night sky. In some of these tales, the Nightzmora traveled alone, while in others, they were joined by companions. One story even claimed they fought as mercenaries in distant wars. Yet, all the stories ended the same: the Nightzmora eventually reached the golden shores, kneeling to kiss the sunlit sands and taste the salty sea foam. While the tribe marveled at these stories, young Daladai stayed silent.
In the years that followed, he fought across the plains, earning the loyalty of the tribes through his courage and strength. Yet, he remained convinced that he had not completed his Khaganquest, as nothing he had seen so far matched his extraordi-nary ambitions. When the entire grassland was finally unified under his blade, and all the tribes honored him as "Kharanduu Khagan", Daladai set his sights on a new goal, his true Khaganquest—to conquer the lands beyond the plains and reach the ends of the earth.
During Kharanduu Khagan's grand conquest across the land, his first target was the Liberi Hippogryphs' kingdom. The Hippogryph nobles had moun-tain fortresses that were easy to defend and difficult to attack, and their Ursus subjects were known for their resilience. However, Kharanduu identified the true weakness in their defenses: the arrogance of the Hippogryphs, coupled with the simmering discontent of the Ursus. As the Nightzmora closed in, the Hippogryphs adopted a scorched-earth policy. They burned the Ursus settlements surround-ing their fortresses, forcing the Ursus to defend their only remaining shelter—the Hippogryphs' mountain nest strongholds. In response, the Khagan sent drunken Nightzmora warriors each day to taunt his enemies, mocking the Hippogryphs as cowards and the Ursus as weaklings. The enraged Hippogryphs charged out of their fortresses in wild, undisciplined assaults, but their Ursus soldiers defected in droves. Amidst the ensuing chaos, the supposedly "invincible" army fell to the Khagan's forces.
After the fall of Deity Grypherburg, the Hippogryph nobles were forced to kneel before the Khagan and offer tribute to his army. From then on, the Hippogryphs only increased their exploitation and oppression of the Ursus. The painful price of defeat fell heavily on the backs of the Ursus, until Igor raised the rebel flag and toppled the Hippogryphs from their throne.
Kharanduu Khagan and his army continued forward, encountering another branch of Kuranta Elders in the west. The Pegasus and the Nightzmora, long sepa-rated, met again on the same battlefield. The proud knights of Kazimierz had never witnessed a night so dark—even their gleaming lances could not pierce through it. The Pegasi charged ahead first, cutting through enemy lines as if no one stood in their way—because, in truth, no one did. The battlefield was filled with illusions
conjured by Nightzmora Arts, meant to stoke the Pegasi's pride before shattering it completely. When the illusions faded, the Pegasi found themselves surrounded in the enemy's encampment. In a desperate final act, they charged toward the Nightzmora command tent but were swiftly cut down by the Kheshig.
After the battle, the Pegasus royal family never recovered. As they bowed their heads to seek peace from the Khagan, the Knights of Kazimierz declared their rule illegitimate, and soon after, they replaced the royal family as rulers of the domain.
The Nightzmora army marched day and night, knowing no fatigue. The warrior nobles of Lower Gaul, still basking in the joy of conquering the plateau, were soon forced to surrender the fertile central river valley to the Khagan. The Dracos of Victoria retreated south to Londinium, where they turned their weapons on their own kin in Tara.
The Nightzmora advance continued, unabated, until they were finally halted by the dense rainforests. For the first time, the Nightzmora paused to rest and recover. At sunset, a Sargon royal envoy arrived at the Khagan's camp, a pivotal moment.
The "Shahanshah" of Sargon welcomed Kharanduu Khagan as if receiving a long-awaited guest. He claimed to have heard much about the Nightzmora's "great conquests" and had already selected a glorious battlefield in the south of Sargon for the Khagan and his warriors. He proposed that the Khagan march his forces through the jungle to the south to engage in a battle for the ages. He even suggested that the Khagan discard his previous spoils and take away something truly valuable from his overflowing treasury. The envoy, speaking fluently in the language of the Nightzmora, read out the Shahanshah's decree and served as the Khagan's guide and advisor for the next several months.
Many Padishahs could not accept the Shahanshah's seemingly insane decision and fiercely resisted the Nightzmora pillaging, engaging in prolonged battles against the Khagan's forces. Every Sargon citizen is a formidable warrior, and the jungle, teeming with lethal Manticore assassins and miasma, exacted a bloody toll on the Khagan's every advance. In the end, his banner was still raised high before the Shahanshah, but standing against him was the Zhayedan, which should have been guarding the southern frontier.
Later generations would struggle to find the right words to describe this brutal battle. Perhaps one could still imagine the blaring horns and the thunderous stampedes of war beasts, but when those sounds were drowned out by the piercing wails that emerged from the void, all words lose their meaning. Inhuman abominations appeared suddenly on the battlefield, making any earthly terror pale in comparison. As Kharanduu Khagan, who had journeyed thousands of miles, recalled the campfires of the grasslands from years ago, he remembered listening in awe as his tribesmen spoke of the Khaganquest, as if his soul had been captivated by a great dream. A shiver of fear reignited the Khagan's weary heart as he realized the horrors before him were a far greater challenge than any kingdom he had conquered. The Shahanshah and Kharanduu Khagan rallied their forces, charging toward the source of the abominations, launching an assault on a horizon even the fowlbeasts dared not cross.
The war culminated in a catastrophic annihilation, wiping out the Shahanshah, Kharanduu Khagan, and their armies. The radiation left behind by this cataclysm created the deadlands known as the "Foehn Hotlands", where searing winds that could incinerate all life howled endlessly. The dense rainforests receded from
the western borders of Sargon, and the expanding wastelands reshaped the face of this ancient empire.
Kharanduu Khagan's expedition not only transformed the landscape but also reshaped the very fabric of human civilization.
The iron hooves of his army shattered the old social order, displacing populations and scattering refugees across the barren lands, where they formed new settlements. Although Kharanduu Khagan's army perished in the Foehn Hotlands, the remnants of the Nightzmora bloodline endured, shaping the histories of many nations and regions. Many other races that had followed the Khagan on his expedition also left descendants across the land.
Today, the wild, unrestrained Nightzmora warriors stand in sharp contrast to the disciplined professional armies of modern nations. Yet a thousand years ago, it was the Nightzmora Crusade that redefined the very concepts of “army” and “war”. The practice of recruiting heirs of the nobles to form elite personal guards in many nations may have deep roots in the Khagan's Kheshig tradition. The Kheshig not only guarded the Khagan but also held administrative responsibilities. They were unwavering in their loyalty to the Khagan, as their positions relied entirely on the stability of his reign. Throughout years of relentless campaigning, these Kheshig—drawn from noble retainers and hostages—prevented disloyalty from festering within an overly bloated army.
But when scimitars severed crowns and flames consumed palaces, the mean-ing of power itself was rewritten. The rule of the Hippogryphs was toppled, and the Pegasi were no longer masters of the knights. This, combined with the Dracos' internal strife, set the stage for the Aslans to seize control of Victoria centuries later. Across the lands where the Khagan's army marched, the divine right of the Elders to rule was questioned and even broken. Ironically, it was the Nightzmora, themselves of Elder lineage, who brought about this change.
The glorious Nightzmora Army reshaped every aspect of civilization on this great land, yet Kharanduu Khagan's Khaganquest faded like a long sigh, slowly disappear-ing into the setting sun and drifting sands.