Guthandus: The Star Guided by Wisdom and the Empire of Divine Grace

Greetings to you, Commander. The empire that occupied the most favoured territory on the continent was shrouded in mystery, both in terms of its dominator and its journey of development. Today, the Continental Chronicles of Novusaes will unveil the hidden secrets of Guthandus that have nearly been submerged in the river of history.

A few eras ago, some of the fugitives from the Old World found a satisfying land on the southern edge of the continent of Novusaes. With its mild climate, fertile soil, rich species and vast plains, it was the ideal place to settle. At first, the survivors were scattered in different settlements, but gradually they merged and united to form the magnificent Guthandus Empire.

The relatively advanced civilisation and the wealth of resources provided ample conditions for the steady growth of commerce and manufacturing, while various cultural styles allowed for the diversity of architecture, dress and emblems, thus making the empire unrivalled on the continent of Novusaes.

During the unification of the empire, diverse ideas collided with each other, and interpretations around the Hohweall Notes proliferated. The renewal and refinement of ideas, combined with the pursuit of spirituality, led to the formation of the imperial religion, Essoth, as the empire became firmly established without the pressure of survival circumstances. They believed that the world was cyclical, dominated by Lord of Wisdom who was both the giver of life and wisdom and the terminator of the world, and that only by seeking intelligence from Lord of Wisdom could one be liberated from the darkness of ignorance and misery.

The flourishing empire fed its people while nourishing endless ambition. A political infighting was triggered by royalty, religious authority and nobility, all of which was not content with the situation of mutual restraint. Perhaps the devotion of the faithful was finally known by Lord of Wisdom, and Pope Lotario suddenly demonstrated his power and broke the stalemate among the three forces, quickly suppressing them and gaining real control of the empire.

From his throne, he declared that this was a small victory under the guidance of the Lord of Wisdom, and that he would then offer an even greater sacrifice to the empire and to the Lord of Wisdom. Pointing to the north-south border line on the map, the Pope pushed the battle northwards, and thus the alienated soldiers, blessed by the Lord of Wisdom, quickly crossed the Delnathir Mountains and the Eschara River, and took up a great deal of land on the north side of the river. The strong military power of the empire caused the four northern kingdoms to fall back, and they eventually had to form an alliance to defend themselves against the Empire's invasion.

Will the Empire of Guthandus, which was blessed with good fortune, be able to carry the Pope's ambitions? How will this war launched by the south against the "heretics" of the north be concluded? And what choice will you make, Commander, in the unpredictable situation of the continent? The sequel to this story is waiting for your creation!