Skorne
Skorne Empire | ||
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Leader: | Makeda Balaash | |
Common name: | Skorne | |
Pronunciation: | ||
Capital: | Halaak | |
Formation: | 598 AR | |
Government: | Feudalism | |
Population: | 5275000 | |
Currency: | SL | |
Other names: | N/A | |
Demonym: | Skorne | |
Official language: | Havaati | |
Other languages: | Cygnaran, Kadesh |
The skorne, although traditionally fighting wars against each other as the various houses try to prove their superiority, were recently united by one of the most dangerous persons in recent history, the former king of Cygnar, Vinter Raelthorne IV, who has declared himself Supreme Archdominar of the entire Skorne Empire.
History
The skorne originated as a nomadic people in southeastern Immoren, called Scindor Solum in their language, south of the elven Empire of Lyoss. Skorne tribes first encountered the elves around 5000 BR and started to raid outlying elven settlements. The elves tried on several occasions to 'civilise' the skorne, and all such attempts ended with the deaths of emissaries and soldiers alike. The elves took to derogatorily call the skorne the 'faithless', 'godless', though the skorne accepted these terms with pride: they have no need for gods.[1][2]
The first skorne to discover spiritual awakening was the master Voskune, who, around 4650 BR discovered the root principles of mortitheurgy and the fundamentals which gave rise eventually to exaltation. He was the first to perceive that on death, a skorne's soul was flung into the yawning Void to experience endless pain and agony. The spirits in the Void are all mad, and he was shaken to learn this was the fate of his ancestors and would be his own fate as well. Voskune was eventually lost to the Void, but his students carried his work forward.[1]
Ten generations later, two masters Ishoul and Kaleed, elaborating on work passed down by students of Voskune, discovered that cutting and polishing certain stones will pull at a spirit, drawing it as water is absorbed into a sponge. They spent their lifetimes perfecting the first sacral stone.[1]
Around 4440 BR, Vuxoris, a venerable warlord, the dominar of Ishoul and Kaleed's house, became the First Exalted through their ministrations. In 4450 BR, Vuxoris had detailed the hoksune warrior code describing the ideals of skorne combat, still followed today, and on his deathbed he asked Ishoul and Kaleed to preserve his spirit so his lore would not fade.[1]
Neither Ishoul nor Kaleed were exalted on their deaths. Skorne philosophers record this with the loss of Voskune himself as a fundamental tragedy of the ancient period. There exists in Malphas an obscure heresy proclaiming that Voskune, Ishoul, and Kaleed — the 'Self-Exalted Trinity' — never fell into the Void but instead persisted past death by force of will alone. Extollers have repeatedly tried to expunge this heresy, but the belief proved tenacious among the city’s lore masters, who preserved scrolls that blatantly contradicted traditional historical accounts.[2][3]
Military Forces
Skorne Warlocks
Skorne Warbeasts
Lesser | Light | Heavy | Gargantuan |
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