Holy Empire

The Holy Empire is an expansionist and religiously devout empire that defines its pride in the lands it conquers and the religious infidels it converts. Those who conquer in the name of the Holy Empire also conquer in the game of their deity Matherion.

Background

Following a series of civil wars roughly 170 years ago, the Holy Empire began its attempts to explore and colonize. Attempted missions have gone through the Sierra Acora mountain range to the west and across the great Mare Orientales ocean to the east.

Explorers and conquerors can win fame and glory in the Empire (and infamous to the conquered) for conquest and conversion of pagan lands without making concessions. Commander Hernando Mouriros is an example. Many of those who go forth to take over foreign lands do so out of a patriotic and religious fervor. Commander Hernando Mouriros and Arcapatos Miguel Agustin are two examples of how such ideological influences can bolster the interest in annexing far-off lands. On the other hand, some of the Empire's agents are motivated by pure greed, such as Anibal Coronado. Regardless of the original nature of the intent for far-off colonization or exploration, several of the Holy Empire's attempts have become brutal enough to spawn Ravenloft domains.

Government

The Holy Empire is ruled by the Imperial Couple, the Emperor and Emperatriz (Empress), and the Consejal Grande (or Imperial Court).

The Emperor can make decisions on where to send funds and explorers when the Consejal Grande dithers and can appoint who will lead voyages.

The Emperatriz gave her handkerchief marked with the symbol of Matherion as a sign of her approval to Commander Hernando Mouriros before he was placed in command of a large garrison of Imperial soldiers.

Capital

Turon is the capital city of the Holy Empire. It is sometimes referred to as a marble city.

Religion

Matherion is the only deity of the Holy Empire that has been mentioned. Presumably this means the Empire has a monotheistic belief system. The Church of Matherion has enough power to be granted the leadership of some missions of colonization and conversion by the Emperor.

Cultural Level

The Holy Empire has a Chivalric (CL 8) Cultural Level, complete with the knowledge to make gunpowder.

Domains created by Holy Empire colonization attempts

• Cumbre de Oro
• Igid Rabi-i
• Mictlan
• Ukhu Pacha

Former inhabitants of the Holy Empire

• Anibal Coronado
• Arcapatos Miguel Agustin
• Commander Hernando Mouriros
• Fransisco Mouriros
• Patos Bartolemo

Publication

• The Holy Empire was originally presented by Ryan Naylor as part of the background of Mictlan in the Book of Shadows. Later details on the Holy Empire were added on in articles by Dion Fernandez (Igid Rabi-i) and Nathan Okerlund (Cumbre de Oro) in the Book of Sacrifices.
• Despite the articles on Vultharesk (Book of Shadows) and Nueva Aragona (Undead Sea Scrolls 2001) having similar colonial domain themes, neither are connected to the Holy Empire.
• As first presented in the netbook Nebula Obscura, Ukhu Pacha had explicit connections to Ryan Naylor's Holy Empire. Ukhu Pacha was later revised in Worlds of Ravenloft into 4th Edition terms and made with fewer such references.