Korvar Empire

Creator: Amaker

Sporecast Link: http://www.spore.com/sporepedia#qry=ssc-500789429823

The Korvar, also known as the Repzork, are a race of highly aggressive reptilians who emerged from their war-torn homeworld of Kovas onto the galactic scene over five hundred years ago. They seek to attain galactic dominance and exterminate what they consider to be 'lesser species' in order to please their Goddess and prove their own superiority. Since their unification and ascension into the stars, they have rapidly spread, building their empire on the ruins of those who were in their way. The Korvar are determined to see their goal of domination and extermination succeed, even if it takes millennia to complete.

Along with their extreme militarism, the Korvar are famous for their brutality. They show little to no regard for innocents and civilians when on the offensive, and will use any resources available to win a conflict. Those who survive a successful siege are taken captive and either taken for interrogation or forced into slavery. Slaves are often worked to death and live in horrid conditions. Once slaves and captives have used up their worth, they are tortured to death, executed, or even sacrificed so that they become a slave in the afterlife. To be a captive within the empire is a death sentence, one very few have escaped.

The Korvar's expansionist policies and war-mongering nature makes them a significant threat to their neighbors. War is commonplace among the ever-expanding empire, and it shows no sign of ever slowing down. Despite this, the Korvar do not seek the destruction of all other civilizations. They seek to ally themselves with those they see as being similar to themselves. Empires built on the foundations of war and violence are seen almost as 'brothers' to the Korvar. This is part of the reason they have joined the Warlord Pact in the Great War.

Aelovi
Aelovi, translated roughly into the 'heart,' is the core of the Korvar Empire. Many of the first colonies claimed during the first wave of Korvar expansion reside here, as does Kovas, the homeworld. The colonies here are bustling urban metropolises, containing tens of billions of residents each. A number of factory worlds reside here, fueling the militaristic and civilian needs of a good portion of the empire. The region is paramount to keeping the empire and its military connected and unified, and if it were to fall, the empire would fall with it. It is often said that Aelovi can survive without the rest of the empire, but the empire could not survive without Aelovi.

"The Iron Shield"
The Iron Shield is a heavily guarded perimeter that surrounds Aelovi. Based at the fortress world of Gardaros, the Shield consist of a large number of orbital installations and vessels constantly patrolling in and around the edge of the territory, ready to open fire on anything that comes near. Travel through the blockade is strictly regulated, and can only be done through checkpoints. Any vessels, even Korvar ships, that do not have the proper permission and permits are forced to go back or face boarding or possible destruction.

Middle Worlds
The region known as the 'Middle Colonies' consist mostly of planets claimed during the later half of the first wave of expansion and the second expansion wave. Though the colonies here are not as well-developed as Aelovi, especially as one goes towards the rim of the region, the territory still contains a large portion of the empire's population and serves as the 'breadbasket,' containing numerous farming worlds that help feed the rest of the empire. Numerous urban centers, military fortresses, and and factory worlds also exist here.

Outer Colonies
Consisting mostly of planets claimed in the last two expansion waves, the Outer Colonies are a mix of planets that range from well-developed colonies, barely-developed frontier worlds, and military-controlled outpost that are not even considered true colonies as of yet. Many people seeking escape from the busier, urban-focused living in the two previous rims will usually come here to live, and as of result of more land and resources for themselves, will eventually have larger families than is usual. Many corporations also come here to claim untapped resource reserves. The local military presence in any part of the region varies on how well-developed and strategically important the region is. Numerous sensors and patrol vessels exist for locations where active guards are sparse.

The Frontier
The Frontier is the final rim of Korvar territory, formed largely of planets that have been claimed within the past century and a half. It is a violent and chaotic region, the location where the Korvar wage their eternal war of expansion and extermination. As a result, the civilian presence here is minimal, those settlements that do exist are located deep within the frontier, near the Outer Rim. The majority of the colonies here are controlled directly by the military, and vary from observation post to fortress worlds.

Frontier worlds never permanently remain as a part of the frontier, and eventually will develop enough to be enveloped within the Outer Rim worlds and begin development towards becoming a true colony. With time and growth, these planets can eventually go on their way to become the level of Middle Colony planets.

'The Dead Zone'
Main page: The Dead Zone

Also called the 'Memorial Systems' and 'Zone of Silence,' the Dead Zone is the region that used to make up the core of the Naelkva Empire. Once a thriving and prosperous region, the location is now a decimated, uninhabitable wasteland, rendered unusable by extensive orbital bombardment. Serving no strategic or economic purpose, the region stands eternally unguarded and undeveloped, a testament to the Korvar's superiority over the Naelkva and a memorial to those who died in the fighting.

States
States are planets that have developed enough to be able to economically sustain themselves without constant government supervision. States are often controlled by a governor who has some ability to create legislation for that state as long as it obeys Imperial law. States are required to offer both economic and military assistance to nearby developing colonies. All states have a military garrison to help act as peacekeepers and to act as an early response unit in the even of an invasion. The garrison, if unable to beat back an enemy, can at least hold them off long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Kovas
Main page: Kovas

Kovas is the heavily industrialized homeworld of the Korvar and their planet of origin. It is here where the head of the Korvar government resides and rules the empire from. It is an immensely urbanized world, much of the surface covered in vast cities, sprawling factories and military facilities. Only a portion of the land remains fairly untainted, mostly for historical and cultural reasons. Being the historical and cultural core of the empire, Kovas is deeply revered across the empire, and the loss of the planet would be a crippling blow to the empire as a whole.

Kovas is divided into six continents: Korvaris, Kalkrik, Avron, Chelksrin, Quolvri, and Lekeron. Korvaris and Avron are warm and humid, and are covered mostly in jungles and forest. Chelksrin and Lekeron are dry deserts, though Chelksrin's eastern end is more temperate, as it wasn't on the receiving end of the rain shadow caused by Chelksrin's mountains. Quolvri was a much more temperate continent, being farther away from the equator. It had a high elevation, being very mountainous. Lastly, the continent of Kalkrik was the northernmost continent, closest to the north pole. Because of this, it was cold throughout the year, and has freezing winters, it was also mountainous similar to Quolvri.

Because Kovas is so important to the Korvar people, the planet is heavily defended. Many ground-side garrisons occupy the planet, helping to keep the peace when the homeworld is not under attack. Many anti-orbital cannons and static defenses also exist outside and within cities, ready to shoot down any invading force in the air. A large defensive fleet resides within orbit, along with numerous defensive platforms. During times of peace these platforms are also used for training troops for fighting in such installations.

Galdaris Fortress
Galdaris Fortress is the very heart of the Empire, it is here where the Emperor and his royal family live. The Fortress is large and well defended, with walls and turrets surrounding the perimeter and underground shield generators protecting it from air strikes and artillery. Guarding the fortress is about two thousand Arnan, the highly trained honor guards tasked with protecting the royals. In the very center of the base resides the palace and namesake of the base, Galdaris. While the fortress' exterior is deigned much like a typical military base, the palace itself is quite different. The fortress is colorful, designed in an old, antique style that dates to antiquity. The inside is especially luxurious and contains many ancient historical and religious artifacts. Access to the palace, as well as the rest of the fortress, is strict. The only people allowed in are guards, high ranking military officials, or those with special permission.

During an invasion, Galderis is used as a command center to manage troop movements. From within many components of the city are can be manually controlled, such as city gates, defensive emplacements, and electricity to the city. Underground with the shield generators is also an elaborate underground tunnel network that leads to other places within the city, allowing evacuation from the base if all else fails.

Varhos
Varhos is a average sized world located in close proximity to Zykorus. The planet was colonized for its large metal deposits, which were rapidly put to use to construct the military fortress on Zykorus and to produce weapons and armor. Despite the planet's brutal arctic climate, the planet's population grew rapidly thanks to the mining operations and security granted by the neighboring fortress world. As such, Varhos has yet to suffer from any major attack, and was left alone by Margan forces. Outside of its mining operations, Varhos is also utilized by the military as a training ground for arctic warfare and survival training.

Prior to the Korvar colonization, Varhos was occupied by another race called the Queldar, who were also intent on mining the planet for its resources. Colonial Expansion forces battled with the Queldar for a month before forcing the Queldar to retreat. Many attempts to claim the planet would be made by the Queldar and other empires. After a few more years of fighting, the military was able to secure the planet and surrounding sector for themselves and begin full colonization efforts.

Setralkyus


A bustling urban colony located fairly close to Zykorus, Setralkyus is one of the primary sources of new recruits for the fortress world. It was colonized a few years before Zykorus began construction and expanded rapidly, going from a few scattered towns to several large cities covering a large portion of the planet. Some parts of the planet still remain wild, and attempts have been made to preserve the wildlife for research and conservation.

Due to the Great War, Setralkyus has a sizable military garrison made up of a larger-than-normal C.D.F (Civil Defense Forces) contingency and several battalions pulled from less important fronts. As a result, a number of extra military installations have had to be built for extra storage and security.

Military Colonies
Separate from the civilian colonial worlds, Military colonies are planets maintained and controlled directly by the military. These planets can serve a large variety of purposes from defending Korvar space to researching sensitive subjects. Each sector of imperial space will generally have several colonies dedicated to many different purposes, depending on how well developed the sector itself is. Rather than the civilian system of having a governor for a state, military colonies are divided to sectors, with each sector having a figurehead based on the most important base. Smaller bases will also have lower ranked leaders stationed on the worlds.

Detelkek Research Facility
Main Article: Detelkek

Located deep within a secluded region of Korvar territory, Detelkek is a heavily fortified military research installation initially created to contain and study the recently discovered Korakzra, or Biomatter. Since entering the Great War, the facility has had additions to make way for other research programs, notably the crystals that the Margan utilize and Margan cybernetic implants retrieved during the brief war between the Korvar and Margan. The base's existence is classified, only the personnel who work there and the higher-ups of high command are aware that the base exist or know where it is. Even the members of the Warlord Pact have not been made aware that the base exist.

Due to the nature of the subjects being studied here, the Korvar have been zealous about making sure that nothing goes wrong and that if something did go wrong, it would not be allowed to leave Detelkek. A large naval fleet forms a small blockade which surrounds the planet and keeps intruders at bay. A garrison of elite forces guard the surface and also exterminate anything that escapes containment. The facility has numerous fail-safes in the event of a massive containment breach, such as flamethrower turrets, explosives laced with Margan crystals, and numerous nuclear warheads in the event that all has been lost and the only way to stop it is self-destruction.

Thus far in the planet's history, there have been no such containment breaches. Neither Peacekeeper nor Warlord forces have discovered the facility and it has gone without any sort of threat. Whether it remains this way has yet to be seen.

Haldron Fortress World
Haldron Fortress worlds are multipurpose strongholds constructed in vitally important regions of Korvar space. They serve three primary purposes: first, they protect nearby colonies; secondly, they serve as a location for training recruits and producing an immense amount of military equipment; and lastly, they serve as a hub for military activity in all nearby sectors of space. It is here where generals gather together to plan out invasions and organize soldiers in the surrounding sectors.

Haldron Fortresses are truly monolithic in scale. The fortresses sprawl across the planet, covering almost every square inch of dirt in a sea of metal. Vast subterranean networks go deep into the earth, serving as quick transportation, storage, and more room for living quarters and factories. Even the depths of the planet's oceans are utilized. So extensive is the industrialization of the planet that the biosphere is damaged beyond repair; in order to keep the planet habitable, special life-support generators are built all across the planet to keep the air clean.

Not counting Aelovi, these fortresses are among the most well-defended locations within Korvar space. The surface is riddled with anti-orbital cannons and defensive emplacements in the event of an invasion. Large fleets and orbital installations surround the planet constantly, warding off any invading fleet. If troops did land, they would have to wade through the millions upon millions of soldiers stationed on the surface, let alone numerous turrets and traps. However, the number of defending vessels and troops is in constant flux, as many of these forces are temporarily garrisoned here before heading out on a campaign.

Haldrons are extremely expensive to produce and maintain. Therefore, only six of these worlds currently exist. They are built in strategic locations to defend important colonies and serve as a backbone for future expansion. They are also massive resource hogs, consuming metric tons of resources in order to produce more war material. It is not uncommon for nearby resource-rich worlds and asteroids to be mined out specifically to feed the fortresses.

Though successful attacks on Haldrons are extremely rare, they do have vulnerabilities that can be utilized against them. Given the number of able troops are in flux, there can be periods of time where the number of ready forces can be low compared to the maximum capacity of the base. They can also be indirectly hurt, such as by disrupting supply lines between mining worlds and fortress worlds. The loss of a Haldron and the forces on it is enough of a blow to knock the entire region's military command into disarray and is a massive drain on resources and troops, which puts the region in jeopardy. Therefore, the defenders will fight every step of the way to ensure that does not happen, making any attempt at an invasion, no matter how well planned, hellish to accomplish.

Zykorus
Main Article: Zykorus

The newest and most advanced Haldron Fortress to date, Zykorus is the official command center of troops involved in the Great War. All plans pertaining to the conflict are made here. This has made it the single most valuable planet pertaining to the Korvar's efforts in the conflict. If the planet was to be conquered, the primariy rallying point would be lost and numerous top officials would theoretically be captured or killed, resulting in troops becoming scattered and disorganized. To prevent such a catastrophe, the planet has a much larger garrison and fleet surrounding it than it normally would, and extra defenses have been added in and around the planet.

Zykorus was colonized a few years before the Great War broke out. It was chosen to become a fortress world due to its strategic location and its proximity to other important colonies such as Varhos and Cetralkyus. The resources to build the base came mostly from its own mineral reserves, nearby asteroids, and the mining operations on Varhos. Construction was officially finished five years after the Rach retreated into the Warp.

Thus far in the war, Zykorus has only been attacked once. The attack was done by the Margan, who at the time were testing the Korvar's military. Margan forces were unable to gain a foothold on the planet due to the multitude of anti-air guns and the vast fleet that surrounded the planet at the time. Those who did manage to land were slaughtered by Korvar troops. Ultimately, Margan forces had to retreat. Damage to the base was minimal and was repaired relatively quickly.

Currently, a massive amount of troops are being shipped into and out of Zykorus to serve in fronts against Peacekeeper affiliated empires, such as the Diabloians and Betel. Other forces are also being amassed for other threats such as the Biomatter. High Admiral Likaros' fleet also resides here, awaiting for orders from Likaros herself.

Gardaros
Gardaros was the first Haldron Fortress ever constructed and is the guardian of Aelovi. It was constructed 150 years after the Korvar rose into space and served as both a military command center and as a large production and training center, much like modern fortresses. As Korvar territory expanded and distance grew between the core and the rim, Gardaros' objective of guarding the Core Worlds became less urgent. More and more forces from Gardaros were shipped to the front lines and to more vulnerable colonies. Today, Gardaros largely serves a more supportive role, training core world recruits and sending them where they are needed most. However, Gardaros still has a sizable garrison in the unlikely event of an attack and to keep the peace within the core.

Since its construction and it taking on more of a backseat role when it comes to military campaigns, Gardaros has taken on a variety of other roles. Many of the most elite Korvar forces are shipped from across the empire to be trained here. Many secret research programs also occur on the planet and its moons. For example, many of the first mechs and energy weapons were first tested here. Many important prisoners from alien empires are also brought here for interrogation and execution.

Biology


The Korvar are reptilian creatures that resemble a cross between a crocodile and a dragon. Their average height is between 6'6 to seven feet tall (2.02 - 2.15 meters). They are a very muscular race, capable of picking up someone even if they're in armor. Most of their body is covered in hard, bony scales which acts like a natural suit of armor. The only soft spots are located at the stomach, the bottom of the jaw, and the inner part of the joints. Their scales can come in a large variety of different colors. Such as red, blue, brown, green, white and black. Similarly, their eyes can develop several different colors such as orange, green, red, and yellow.

Their head consist of a long snout which is about 1 1/3 feet to two feet in length, depending on the individual's overall size. Their teeth evolved to be pointed, allowing them to grab hold of prey and tear off hunks of flesh. Thanks to strong muscles in the jaw, they can close their mouth with incredible force, capable of shattering bones and denting lighter metals. Unfortunately, the muscles for opening their mouth are not as strong, allowing for someone to literally hold their mouth closed. The Korvar do not chew their food, and instead swallow it whole. This means that their metabolism is very slow, they can go for several days without needing to eat another meal.

Their hands have four fingers, all of which end in sharp, pointed claws meant for holding onto prey and tearing their flesh. Their feet have three toes with sharp claws, with a smaller claw in the back of the foot. Protruding from the back of their skull are three spikes which are used to attract mates. Two large wings protrude from their back. The wings are vestigial parts which lost their main function long ago. Though they can be used for brief gliding, they are more often used for body language. Males have an extremely hard, bony plates which covers their entire lower arms and legs. Most females do not possess this trait. The exact time the trait developed is uncertain. The Korvar have a strong sense of sight and smell. Their eyes, which are positioned as to provide binocular vision, evolved to be able to discern prey in the thick jungles of their homeworld. This has helped them today in spotting enemy infantry on the battlefield. Their sense of smell allows them to trace a specific smell for several miles. In comparison, their sense of hearing is quite average. Their ear holes are located in the back of their head, above the spike which protrudes from above the jaw. They are an egg-laying species. Once the male has fertilized the eggs, the female will lay up to five or so eggs into an incubator. After about seven months, the babies will hatch out of the eggs, using their head and hands to push their way out. Their wings and head spikes have yet to fully develop at this time, with the spikes just being small stumps. They reach adulthood around the age of twenty-five. They will generally live on to be 125 years, depending on livelihood and genetics.

History
Main page: History of the Korvar

Pre-Unification
''The following document shows a Korvaris-centric view of Korvar history. At the same time, the earliest parts of history have been lost in many places due to sheer age and extensive warfare.''

Tribal Era
For millennia after the rise to sentience the Korvar lived as semi-nomadic tribal societies based around central and northern Korvaris. Due to abundant food and water in the region, many tribes didn't start out as nomadic, instead settling down in one place. Nomadic tribes didn't appear until either competition between tribes either displaced a group or the environment was no longer able to sustain them.

War was commonplace between many of the ancient tribes. Whether it be over food, land, faith, or simply because they were different, many tribes were at a constant state of war. These wars resulted in the destruction of entire ancient cultures and displaced thousands, forcing them to move towards uninhabited lands towards the south and west. These forced migrations would eventually lead the Korvar to spreading towards other continents.

Not all of the tribes constantly fought one another. Some of them banded together, typically against common enemies. These friendly tribes would sometimes merge together, becoming new powerhouses in the region and dominating the lesser tribes, either destroying them entirely or capturing them and forcing them to slavery or paying some form of tribute. These larger tribes would eventually become some of the first nations.

Ancient Era
The date and location where civilization began to develop is unknown, the place and people long lost in the unwritten annals of history. Many theories have come about as to why people began to abandon their old, tribal ways. The most popular and sensible theory is that a multitude of tribes likely banded together against common enemies for protection. These united tribes eventually developed a official system of government and put together the first cities, thus beginning the era of civilization.

In the earliest days of civilization, metals had yet to be fully utilized for architecture or military purposes. The most common resources of the day were wood and stone, which were both extremely plentiful and easier to work with at the time. Some tablets even suggest that some attempted to make armor for soldiers out of stone and wood, but it is unlikely that they were ever successful. Bronze and iron were both eventually discovered, but it still took some time before they saw extensive use.

The first major civilizations formed on the continent of Korvaris. It would be a few centuries before foreign nations rose up, The first of these formed on the eastern portions of Chelksrin, with the western half following suit a short time later. It was normal for one or two particular empires would have dominion over most of the continent for a time before dissolving and being replaced.

The extensive fighting would have the unfortunate side-effect of damaging or destroying many relics from the time period. What has been discovered and deciphered ultimately gives an incomplete and at times scattered view of early Korvar history.

The Telkevon Empire

The Telkevon Empire was one of the first and most historically significant civilizations to form in the western deserts of Chelksrin. They were the descendants of the first nomadic groups who began their migrations away from Korvaris a few centuries prior. Much like the other groups who came to Chelksrin, they avoided the desert regions and stayed near the rivers which were rich with fauna and plants. Initially, the Telkevon inhabited the coastal regions to the north, but for reasons lost to history they migrated east towards the mountains. This would ultimately turn out to be a boon as the region had both large ore deposits and had fertile soil for raising cattle. It would be here that the nomadic people would settle down and construct their capital city of Natevl, marking the beginning of the Telkevon Empire.

Within a few years of its foundation, the Telkevon became the dominant power in the region. Their military was larger and had better training and equipment compared to many of their neighbors and large stocks of cattle meant that they could sustain a large population. One of the biggest advantages they had was their use of iron. The Telkevon were some of the first to discover and use iron on a large scale. This gave them a clear advantage over their enemies, who were still using either bronze or leather for their armor.

First Korvar Empire
Duration: 5287BU-3007BU

The Korvar Empire is considered to be one of the last of the ancient civilizations, but also among the most important. The empire is believed to have formed around northeastern Korvaris after several smaller states united together. Much of their government bears similarities to what is in use today, making them one of the first truly "modern" imperial governments. They are considered to be among the earliest known ancestors of the modern day Korvar ethnicity and modern Korvar Empire. Much of their culture and ideology survived their demise and carried over into the present, helping to mold and form the Repzork into what they are today. One important cultural aspect of the Korvar was their religious beliefs. Around the time the empire formed, the religion of Neivelism was spreading wildly across northeastern Korvaris. This combination would help spread the religion as the Korvar rapidly expanded across the continent.



The Korvar went on numerous military campaigns in an effort to expand their borders, and proved to be brutally efficient fighters. One of the many reasons for their success was the fact that they domesticated the Karnas. The Karnas is a very large reptilian creature that was extremely strong and had a venomous bite. Being so hard to capture and resistant to training, many in the past were unable to successfully tame the beast, but the Korvar had managed it, albeit after some time. Unprepared to fight such a new enemy, many quickly fell to the Korvar and their mounts.

The Korvar were not always so brutal, however. They did give the option to surrender before attacking their enemies. They would surround a city or fort, making it unable to go outside unless they gave in to the Korvar demands and gave up. If they did surrender, they received privileges others did not, such as lessened tributes to the Korvar and more freedom to travel. If they did not surrender, the Korvar would attack and overwhelm them until they finally gave in.

The Korvar were able to take over all of Korvaros within about a century. They would soon begin campaigns outside of their home continent. They managed to annex both Vahro and Hasrid Island. They also managed to annex small parts of the Qualdris Islands and eastern Chelksrin. Archaeological evidence even suggest that they attempted to explore or even colonize Kalkrik, but no evidence of permanent settlements has been found.

Outside of their expansive military campaigns, the Korvar did have peaceful relations and trade with other civilizations. It is known that they had trade routes with the Kingdom of Lekeron and nations in western Chelksrin. It is unknown however if they interacted with the Avronians or Quolvrans, as little to no evidence can be found from the time period.

Most historians agree that the Korvar Kingdom managed to last somewhere around 1,500 thousand years, making them one of the most successful and longest lasting civilizations in history. It was a numerous host of problems that would lead to their fall from grace and ultimate destruction.

Civil War & Collapse
Though the exact details are still debated, and not everything of the time period is well recorded, historians have managed to piece together a somewhat broad image of the decline of the Korvarian Empire. It was a slow, painful decline from grace that eventually shattered it apart. One of the first, and perhaps most obvious, was that they had extended a vast distance. Though they had the ability and roads to get from one place to another, communication was still slow, and the military had trouble keeping control over its vast expanse of land. This is believed to be one of the larger problems that the Korvarians faced, as their military was being spread thinner and thinner as they expanded, and as a result, they began to lost more campaigns, and eventually, territory. The first known piece of land to be permanently reclaimed were the Qualdris Islands, and overtime, their grip on Chelksrin would be lost as well. As more territory was lost, so was resources, food, and trade routes, all of which had a devastating impact on the Korvarians.

Another pressing issue was the imperial bloodline of the Korvarians. Though the records are shoddy and likely biased, they do show a common trait, that the Korvarian leadership eventually became greedy and corrupted, but also deformed and seemingly unstable. It is known that during the time period, incest was somewhat common between royalty. The consequences of such actions was not known at the time, so it only got worse as time went on. This is believed to have aided in the imperial bloodline becoming inept at leadership. The poor decisions made by those in power contributed to both increasing economic instability and the people becoming more upset.

These political, economic, and military problems would eventually boil when the emperor of the Korvarians, his wife, and his children were all murdered by the military as they attempted to claim control over the empire. Loyalist to the royal family and those wishing for a new government began to fight each other across the capital city and soon across much of Korvaris. This fighting served to do nothing more but make matters worse for the empire, and would be its death sentence. With no stable leadership and infighting destroying it from the inside, the Korvarian Empire fell apart. The war crippled its economy and military, leaving it unable to maintain its control over its territory, and much of it was lost and became up for grabs by other civilizations. What was left of Korvaris itself was a small territory around northeastern Korvaros, but it is believed to have slowly died off.

Though the empire died, what it left behind did not. Neivelism had become a firmly established religion on the continent, and many of the surviving Korvarians went on to either form their own small nations or live in the now independent territories, helping to preserver their culture, ideals, and technology.

Revival of the Korvar Empire
The first references of what would become today's Korvarian Empire begin about 1,600 years after the collapse of the Korvarian Empire. They had formed somewhere in southeastern Korvaris, near what was left of a massive Korvarian port city. The Repzork were heavily influenced by Korvarian culture, and by extension, Neivelism. This was to the point that much of it became their core principles. They believed that war was the only path to prosperity and peace. They sought to unify the continent and the planet under one banner. They needed an amassed army and supplies though, something that would take time to build up. Instead of attacking the mainland, they first attacked the nearby Qualdris Islands. The islanders were quickly overrun and taken over. Mining of the islands rapidly began and much of the populace was conscripted into the military. Soon after, they went on to successfully invade Hasrid Island, followed up by the Knalkrik Islands.

The Repzork also reached out to support of foreign powers. They built up relations with the Lekonians of Lekeron and some of the Lyvairn states of Chelksrin. The reason the Lekonians were not considered targets of invasion was because the Lekonians and Korvarians had almost always been good trading partners and allies throughout history. The Lyvairn, though a divided people, had strong fighting abilities, and some of them were sympathetic to the Repzork's goals. They primarily traded with these foreign powers, but eventually also went on to assist each other militarily, especially the Lekonians and Korvarians.

With supplies and troops coming in from their own reserves and their island territories, and the support of allied powers, the Repzork saw themselves fit to finally invade Korvaris. What would follow would be several decades of war as the Repzork swept through Korvaris, capturing territory along the way and having once powerful nations submit to them. Those who surrendered were spared from the relentless attacks. Within the span of a few decades, all of the continent, along with all of Vasrid Island, was under the control of the Repzork. The Repzork immediately went ahead to fix the damage they had caused and solidify their presence to ensure total control.

Following the war was a large wave of people attempting to flee the continent. Many were captured and taken back before escaping, but some did manage to escape. Many fled to the eastern regions of Chelksrin. Others went with a much deadlier option, fleeing to the frozen hell known as Kalkrik. Kalkrik was the perfect place to disappear. Few people traveled here, and most nations did not bother to inhabit the land, seeing it as too dangerous. Many of the refugees who fled here were in the northern regions of Korvaris and on Vasrid island, and had few other options.

Life on the continent was brutal and unforgiving. The fierce cold weather killed off many of the people who fled here. People were forced to cooperate if they wanted to survive. Many fled into the caves to stay warm and dry, venturing out only to get food and materials for building and clothing. Complex underground settlements were constructed, some of which were almost cities in their own right. As they began to stabilize themselves and adapt to their environment, the population slowly but surely began to rise. The communities decided to band together for their own protection and to ensure they would not fight amongst themselves. Thus, the Kalkrik Confederacy was formed. They stayed in hiding on Kalkrik, almost never venturing outside for a very long period of time.

Back on Korvaris, the Repzork worked towards expanding their global influence. One of the first official actions of the Repzork Empire after taking Korvaris was to assist their Lyvairn allies who were working to unifying the other Lyvairn nations, similarly to the Repzork Empire had not too long ago. Seeing an opportunity to improve their alliance and potentially more resources and technology, the Repzork sent a large force to help train and reinforce their Lyvairn allies. After several years, the combined forces had managed to sway others to their side or conquer them. The new unified state was called the Lyvairn Dominion. The Repzork left a military garrison on the continent for some time to help keep order and attempt to relieve old tensions between the various different nations.

The Global War
Duration: 97BU-0BU

What has become known as the "Global War" or "War of Unification" was a world-wide war that would prove to be one of the defining moments of Korvar history. The war, initially starting in an attempt to halt imperial influence on Kovas, soon became a war of world domination, with factions attempting to overcome and destroy the others so that they could reign supreme over Kovas.















Rise into the stars
 0U (Unification)- 75U 

With their eyes looking up, the Korvar worked to get working craft capable of going into space. Within a few years, they were able to launch the first individuals into orbit. A short time later, the first walk on the moon was achieved. With the technology in their hands, they worked on the next big step, colonizing a planet. The candidate for colonization was the neighboring planet of Datogavo, a planet which by that time was already shown to have water and plant life on it.

Colonization efforts on Datogavo proved to be successful. Along with water and plants, it also had wildlife and breathable air on it, making it the perfect place for colonization. The success helped to spur further exploration into colonizing other parts of the solar system. However, there were no other habitable worlds in the solar system. Many colonies in these worlds quickly became either mining or military worlds for training and research. Many asteroids in the Sagoda asteroid belt were also exploited for their resources, proving in huge mineral worth to the fledgling empire.

Though the Korvar had no encounter with alien life at this point, many believed that their discovery would be inevitable. Many were afraid and paranoid of potential alien hostility. Due to this, the military was rapidly expanded during this early period to try and form a competent defensive force. Vast improvements to military technology and equipment came about from this period, such as the first generation of power armor and the first armed spaceships. After many years of research and development, the Korvar managed to create their first FTL engines for spaceships, making traversing outside of the solar system more practical. These models were still somewhat slow and energy intensive, making travel to other solar systems somewhat slow. Soon after they began to move out and colonize habitable worlds outside the solar system.

First Contact
90U - 114U

Korvar-Sekral War
130U - 132U

Reaping the technological benefits of their new allies, the Korvarians were quick to put their newly traded equipment to good work. New, faster starship engines were produced, allowing for ships to traverse system to system considerably faster than before. New weapons and armor were also produced, making for a better equipped military. Soon, they began another surge of expansion through space. Over a period of nineteen years, several more systems were brought under their control. They did not encounter any more alien species during this time.

In 715AU, a reconnaissance force discovered an alien colony on a mineral rich world. These aliens were the Sekral, a race of bird-like creatures. The Sekral were territorial, being defensive of their territory but largely leaving races alone unless it was for diplomatic reasons. After a few more months of reconnaissance and consideration, the decision was made to invade and annex Skeral territory, both to claim the land and resources, and to prove their military strength. The first ever invasion armada was formed under the command of Grand Xel'va Valkaro.

Xel'va Valkaro launched a surprise assault on Sekral territory. Having the element of surprise and using overwhelming force, Valkaro's forces were able to score a few victories early in the war. This turned out to be short lived, as the Sekral reacted with a large counteroffensive which aimed at forcing the invaders out of their territory. Valkaro was forced to retreat retreat fortified positions on the worlds they had claimed. Korvar forces were ordered to hold back Sekral forces while the empire formed another invasion fleet.

Unfortunately, the Korvar were unable to hold the Sekral at bay. The defenders were forced out of Sekral territory with a large portion of its force destroyed and were pushed back into home territory. It was around this time that the second invasion fleet came in and reinforced the first fleet. Despite this, the situation continued to become more desperate as the Sekral pushed further and managed to land troops on outer colonies. A few colonies were lost over several days of fighting, but the Korvar managed to hold their ground for some time.

Eventually, the Korvar came and asked the Nevelus for assistance in the conflict in exchange for a portion of the territory and resources. The Nevelus, seeing it as economically beneficial and as a chance to bolster trust with their ally, agreed, and dedicated a sizable force to assist Korvar forces. Refreshed with Nevelus troops, the two empires managed to break back into Sekral territory and slowly take over outer worlds.

The alliance slowly gained ground until they reached the Sekral core worlds. The core worlds were heavily defended and highly well developed as one would expect, so enemy resistance was strong. Fighting would rage on for a year as they slowly wore down Sekral forces and defenses. Ultimately, the Sekral were unable to prevent the two empires from reaching their homeworld. Despite heavy casualties, the Korvar and Nevelus managed to successfully invade the Sekral homeworld and executed many of the political leaders. With the loss of their homeworld and leaders, the Skeral empire dissolved, with many survivors fleeing into other parts of space.

The Korvar, though they were victorious, had suffered heavy casualties over the course of the war and had to spend quite a bit of resources to rebuild their fleets. There was also a sense of humiliation in some, as they were unable to completely crush the Skeral with only Korvarian forces. For the most part though, many were glad that the Nevelus agreed to help, believing the Korvar Empire may have been severely damaged or even destroyed if they did not intervene. As agreed, Sekral territory and resources were split between the two allies.

A short year after his victory against the first war with an alien empire, Grand Xel'va Valkaro died of heart complications. His death was mourned by many throughout the empire. His second-in-command, High Admiral Lorkai, would go on to replace him and serve in several more campaigns against alien civilizations.

132U -177U

Many advancements are made with salvaged Sekral technology. Space travel, military technology, and computing see particular improvements. Another massive wave of colonization of space begins. The Empire grows several times larger over the course of several hundred years. The economy also has a boom during this time thanks to increased trading and mining. Encounters with alien empires begins to increase during this time. Some alliances are created, but wars are becoming more commonplace. During this period the Korvar managed to score their first victories against alien empires without needing allied assistance. This went further to help them technologically, but also to increase their morale and confidence as a race.

Emergence of the Ulqo Sovereignty
312U - 315U

The Naelkva
498U - 509U

Modern Times
 Present day, 557A-Onward 

In modern time, the Korvar continue to do what they have done for centuries: expand their empire and bring destruction upon their enemies. Their empire is vast and prosperous, and the military is the strongest it has ever been.

In the year 523, the previous emperor, Emperor Katath, died. His son, Zervath, ascended to the throne and was crowned emperor soon after. He has largely gone to follow the steps of his father. Thus far, his leadership has gone quite smoothly, his nationalistic love for the empire and its ideals making him quite popular. On the military side of the government, the Grand Xel'va of the time died a few years after Zervath rose to the throne. Ahkavas, his second-in-command, was promoted to Grand Xelva, becoming the supreme commander of Korvar forces.



The Korvar are locked into wars on practically all sides. Some are small and negligible while others have dragged on for years, even decades. One such conflict is the twenty-seven year long war between the Korvar and the Zorock Republic. The war began when the Zorock launched a surprise offensive into Korvar territory, hoping to to subdue their enemy quickly and to halt their expansion in the region. The offensive was somewhat successful for a time, it managed to get deep inside of the outer-rim territories, occupying many of the colonies that was in their path. The Zorock showed how truly unaware of Korvar culture they were at this period, though. As they tried to show the residents why Zorock ideals would benefit them more and help them bring an end to their endless wars and imperial government. What happened instead is that the colonist fought against Zorock control even more, wanting nothing to do with these "modifications."

Meanwhile, the Zorock offensive rapidly began to lose steam. Overwhelming Korvar reinforcements pushed enemy forces back out of their territory and reclaim their colonial worlds. After some time, the Zorock offensive was completely repulsed, and the Korvar began pushing into Zorock territory, and managed to grab several colonies before being stopped. Twenty-seven years later, and the war is at a stalemate. Neither side has been able to beat the other side, and territorial gains are constantly gained and lost. Many of the colonies in this region have been turned into military fortress planets in response to the fighting.

War is a natural thing to the Korvar though, the numerous wars they face is not something to be afraid of. Rather, it is a challenge, a battle of who is the most fit for the universe. A fight that the Korvar have won and profited from numerous times before, and will do so again, until the day their empire ceases to exist.

The Great War
557A - Ongoing

Korvar
 Notable Korvar: Emperor Zervath, Grand Xelva Ahkavas

 Description:  The uniters of Kovas, the Korvar are the most numerous and influential of the ethnicities in the empire. They originate from the continent of Korvaris, the land where the Korvar species originated. The inhabitants of the Havros and Knalkrik Islands are also considered to be Korvar because of similar genes and culture. Physically, they are around medium height, and have either red or dark green scales. They have somewhat longer tails than other ethnic groups due to it being seen as attractive, and because the long tail helped to remain balanced on the trees in their early history. Their head spikes are also the longest of all ethnic groups. -wip-

Lyvr
Notable Lyvr: N/A

The Lyvr originated in the vast deserts of western Chelksrin, a vast, unforgiving land with little water and food. They are the oldest non-Korvar ethnic group, originating from the first few waves of migrants who left Korvar millennia ago. Their scales are typically a light and sandy in coloration, but can occasionally be much darker. They have a sinewy, yet still muscular build and are around the same height as the Korvar.

In many ways, the Lyvr are similar to the Korvar. Both are hungry for war and conquest, and both have a history of fighting amongst themselves. What's different is the reasoning for the fighting. The Korvar have been driven by faith and ideology, the Lyvr have been driven by both hatred and natural resources. Where loyalty lies also differs. In Korvar culture, loyalty to the state is most important. In Lyvr culture, one's dedication to their own tribe is far more important than to any nation. As a result, the Lyvr were very xenophobic and often attacked outsiders. This only began to change very late into pre-space history. Lyvr history was not always of bloodshed and war among themselves. Early in their history, they were unified under one empire: The Telkevon. The Telkevon were so successful in unifying the Lyvr because it was founded when most Lyvr still lived in one general area, making them easy to unite. The deep-rooted bitterness had yet to develop by this point. This changed when the empire began its decline and its leadership fell apart. Civil war quickly broke out as different parties fought for powe while at the same time developing bitterness and hatred for everyone else. To make matters worse, the culture of the region went under major shifts. The eastern half of the empire was influenced by both the Korvar and Sycer while the western half was influenced by the Lekon and to a lesser extent the Quolvri.

Syceran
Notable Syceran: Vier Elseron 

Description: The Syceran originate from the eastern region of Chelksrin. Separated by a vast and jagged mountain range that was nearly impossible to traverse and having a much more tropical climate compared to the west, the Syceran developed quite a different culture. Most Syceran have very light green scales, but closer to the coast many have blue colored scales, an unusual mutation that became very prominent in the region.

Lekon
Notable Lekon: Vier Varo

Description: The Lekon hail from the continent of Lekeron, a somewhat small continent that resides east of Korvaris. The first Lekon are believed to have migrated from both Chelksrin and Korvaros. Much of the continent is covered in a vast, mountainous desert, making it very hard to attack but also limiting living space. Their scale color ranges from a light shade of brown to Korvar-like red. They have the shortest tails and longest snouts of all ethnic groups, traits which have developed entirely because of vanity.

The Lekon have almost always been a very unified and community-oriented people. The small amount of living space on Lekeron helped to keep people together and form a unified government that had control over the entire continent. Though they have been close allies to the Korvar for centuries, they never developed the same militaristic aspirations that their neighbors had. The Lekon were generally more content with keeping to themselves and trading with the other empires. Instead of swords and armor, the Lekon are dedicated to the arts and philosophy. Many of the most famous artist and philosophers have been Lekon. Many still come to the Lekon to study their works and purchase Lekon-made crafts.

Avrin
Notable Avrin: Empress Vailovi

The Avrin hail from the lush jungles of Avron. They originated from a mix of ancient Lyvr and Lekon migrants who settled on the continent for its bountiful food and cooperative climate. In terms of physical appearance, the Avrin are among the tallest ethnic groups, standing taller than most Korvar by a few inches. Their skin is mostly green much like many Korvar, but have a noticeably darker shade. They are well known for being the one group of people that have not had their wings reduced in size over the past few centuries. If anything, they have actually gotten slightly larger.

The Avrin have always been an anomaly when compared to their neighbors. While their neighbors were focused on wars and expansion, the Avrin chose a path of nonviolence and isolation. They They strayed away from world events and avoided interaction with their neighbors unless they threatened the homeland. However, if one came to Avrin simply to travel or to move from one place to another, they were often left alone. Occasionally, people from Avrin would appear in other continents, usually attempting to preach an ideology of peace. Sadly for them, they were very often ignored, if not killed.

Much of the Avrin's early history has been lost or twisted into legend. For a long time, their history was passed down to the next generation by stories and legends told from memory rather then being written down. It was only during the rise of the second Korvar Empire did Avrin history start to be written down. Much of the written history tells of their interactions with the Lyvr, Lekon, and much later on, the Quolvri. From what is known, the Avrin have dealt the the Lyvr the longest of the three. Raiders from Lyvrn territory would occasionally come to Avrin coastal settlements in an attempt to sack them. The interactions with the Avrin and Lekon largely dealt with trade. The two were trading partners early on in recorded history. The Lekon would also sometimes help repel Lyvr raiders. The two drifted apart as the Korvar's influence within Lekon society grew and the Lekon became more militaristic.

In the decades leading up to the War of Unification, the Quolvri became close allies with the Avrin. At this point in history, the isolation of the Avrin was starting to hurt them more than it helped. They were behind technologically and did not have a defense force that would be capable of repelling invasions from their neighbors. The Quolvri attempted to help them by providing them technology and resources. The Avrin, however, believed that if they remained neutral in any conflict that they would be safe from attacks. Unfortunately for them, this did not ring true when war broke out. Indeed, they were one of the last nations left standing, but were attacked by a joint force of both Korvar and Lekon forces. By this time the Quolvri had already been defeated and were incapable of providing reinforcements. The Avrin surrendered not long after, sacrificing their autonomy for safety.

In modern times, the Avrin are a largely forgotten and ignored people. They are ambivalent towards the rest of the empire and tend to keep to themselves. They often group together and form their own small communities, most refusing to blend with other cultures. For the most part, they have retained much of their original culture and traditions. They do not agree with the empire's militaristic policies, but see fighting it as a fruitless endeavor that would waste lives. Instead, they have turned their efforts to helping other Korvar in non-violent ways, such as working as doctors and scientist. Resistance movements do exist, but they are seen by other Avrin as both pointless and brutish.

In the past two centuries or so, some notable individuals who are exceptions of the Avrin's traditions have arisen. Among these are empress Vailovi, the current wife of Emperor Zervath. Rather than follow the path of those around her, she embraced the mindset of the empire and rose up the ranks in the military to become a general before becoming a royal. Her and other individuals have led some to believe that Avrin culture is very slowly dying out, and that within the next few centuries Avrin culture will cease to exist. Only time will tell if they are correct.

The Avrin are often looked down upon by much of society, particularly by the Korvar and Lyvr. Their peaceful, isolated nature is seen as a sign of weakness and many believe that if it was not for the militaristic policies of the empire then the Avrin would have been destroyed or enslaved long ago. Individuals such as Vailovi are seen as examples that the rest of the Avrin should follow. At the same time, most tend to just ignore the Avrin and leave them to do their own thing so long as they keep within the law. Some extremist, however, see things differently. They wish to see the Avrin all destroyed. They see the Avrin as violators of the laws of the Goddess. These people are often singled out as lunatics and hypocrites by those around them. The law very clearly states that no Korvar is to be harmed unless they pose a risk to you or to your family, Indeed, the Avrin have not posed any threat to the Empire, and are unlikely to anytime soon.

Kalkrik
Notable Kalkrik: Cyrom Kartarak, Chief Cybernetics Engineer Nahtev

 Physical Description: The Kalkriks are the smallest ethnic group in the empire. They are descendents from refugees and runaways from both Korvaris and Quolvri who fled to evade imperialism and persecution. Their time on the icy continent and aversion to foreigners helped to retain most of their original culture, making them noticeably distinct from all other culture groups. Most Kalkriks have white colored scales, some being a light shade of grey. They are tied with the Quolvans as being the shortest of all ethnicities.

Quolvran
Notable Quolvran: N/A

 Physical Description: The Quolvran originate from the northwestern regions of Quolvri and are believed to be among the youngest of the major ethnic groups. Contrary to most other governments in history, the Quolvran had a much more democratic system of government, which put them at odds against most other empires. They are among the shortest ethnic groups, even shorter than the Kalkrik. Their scale color ranges from black to a dark grey.

Altrin
Notable Altrin: Valxelva Likaros, Priestess Qalrovah

Description: The superstitious and xenophobic Altrin developed in the northwestern regions of Quolvri. Cut off from the rest of the continent by jagged mountains and their own legends, the Altrin developed into a culture entirely different than the Quolvrians. The Altrin resemble the Quolvrians in many ways, such as a short stature and black scales. One would have to look at the finer details to tell them apart. Altrin have longer horns on their head, smaller wings, and have a deeper voice than their Quolvrian counterparts.

The Altrin originated in the northwestern regions of Quolvri. Due to most of the region being surrounded by jarsh mountains which made travel extremely difficult, they were isolated from the rest of the continent for a long time. In that time, they developed into a theocratic and xenophobic nation. The Quolvrians eventually found them, and initially tried supporting and uplifting the Altrin. Instead, the Altrin attacked them and stole from them. The two got into several wars over the centuries, some of which were fueled by the Altrin religious fanaticism. A few years before global unification, the Quolvrians finally managed to defeat the Altrin and occupied the territory. Shortly after, the Korvarian empire, taking advantage of the Quolvrian's weakened state, invaded and took over both groups.

Religion
Main page: Neivelin

Religious freedom is allowed within the Korvar Empire. The vast majority of the population still worships a deity, with only a small minority being atheist or agnostic. Most religious beliefs stim from Kovas. Though there are cases of more recent cases of folklore and superstitions forming on backwater worlds, most of which are small cults shunned by other parts of society.

Neivelon
The vast majority of Korvar, estimated between 75-80% of the population, follow a religion called Neivelon. Neivelon is an ancient religion that goes all the way back to the Korvar Kingdom on the homeworld, and survived to later influence the Korvarian Empire and mold them into who they are now. Many members of the royal family, including the emperor, are also followers of Neivelism.

Believers in Neveilon worship a goddess named Syleris. According the the holy text, Syleris created the physical universe we live in to test her creation, to see if they are worthy of entering the afterlife to live their days as part of her kin. Unlike many religions which would encourage peace and love between alien races, Neivelon does the opposite. To prove one's worth to Syleris is to rightfully claim what they believe is theirs through war. The weak, peaceful, and timid are efficiently killed off as they are seen as "failures" unworthy of being with the goddess. Meanwhile, the like-minded conquerors ally amongst themselves to spread across the stars and earn their rightful place in the afterlife. This lends itself to an intense belief that their way is the best way and that other races challenging that or being different may not deserve to exist.

Believers in Neivelism normally do not seek out to expand their religion and convert other races to it. It is possible to be accepted by Syleris without even knowing the she existed. This is because one proves themselves through their expansion and warring, rather than their faith in the Goddess. The Korvar are completely open to other races joining in on the religion, and usually will talk to others about it if the topic arises, or if they do indeed seek to convert others.

Unlike many gods, who would be there to help their spawn whenever prayed to or when they believe divine intervention is needed, Syleris is also different. As the created must prove themselves, they receive no divine help from the goddess herself, and must fend for themselves. The only exception being the ancestral spirits of a believer, who choose to come to the aid of their family when called upon.

Despite no divine assistance, the goddess did leave for them three "gifts" for the Korvar. These three gifts are water, light, and air. Water was the most important of the three, as it allowed them to cleanse themselves and provided life. Light brightened the darkened path and allowed the Korvar to see. Air was the most powerful, an invisible force that controlled the weather, and like water, was needed for survival. All three of these 'gifts' also have more destructive aspects to them. Water could rise up and sweep away the earth. Light could become blinding, and also represented destruction, such as by fire or volcanoes. Air could become fierce, tossing objects into the air and directing both water and fire.

Family
Korvar are social creatures that like the group up and stay with the ones they know. As such, families tend to be very large and tight-knit. Multiple generations of the same family tend to live together, or even within the same house if its possible. If they can't live in the same household, they will often try to live within the same city or apartment complex. Every adult in the family is expected to help support the rest of the family. This can include anything, from helping raise the children, to pitching in money so they can afford better housing or other expensive items. The drive to have large families helps to spur colonization in the frontier worlds as families will find the more spacious, resource rich worlds to settle down. It has also led to many cities being built to be fairly large and spacious.

Marriage is considered to be between one man and one woman. Larger marriages are uncommon, but allowed by law. Homosexual marriages are illegal, considered to be unnatural and an abomination of the natural order of life. Once married, couples have to decide where to live. Deciding to live on their own is rare and is generally frowned upon, so they normally make the decision to live in the housing of one or the others family based on a number of factors, such as finances and family size.

Most couples have a large amount of children over their lifetime. This is due to both nature and the pressures of their militaristic society. It is encouraged to have children so they can come into the work force and so they can serve the emperor in the armed forces. Some families can have upwards of twenty to thirty children, rarely even more. The entire family helps to raise and teach the children, showing them their crafts and preparing them for their future in the military. If a child returns from the military alive, they come back to live with their family until they find a mate.

Language


For all formal interaction within the Empire and with alien species, the Korvar use Krylgalon, a language which has its roots back in early history. Krylgadon is one of the more complex languages within the Empire. The alphabet is made up of dozens upon dozens of letters, each producing its own unique sound. Many of the letters are variations of parent letters. For instance, the letter for "ar" is the parent letter for "ah" and "al." This basically means that the letter for "ah" and "al" are based on a modified version of the letter "ar." Some of the noises that are produced are not audible on hearing range of many species, including humans. This helps to make the language excessively hard to understand and neigh impossible to properly speak.

Body language plays a very important role in communication as well. The tone and meaning of a word can be completely different depending on how the person is acting whenever they say it. One of the most important body parts used in body language are the wings. For example, a person raising their wings to make themselves appear bigger is being aggressive and intimidating, pulling back the wings and tilting the head shows curiosity.

Outside of formal conversations, other languages can be observed being spoken. One specific example is the language that the Kalkrik Confederacy used before being absorbed into the Korvarian Empire, Qualvo. The language has managed to survive thanks to the Kalkrik's stubbornly independent nature and long-time aversion to other cultures.

Education
Education consist of 10 primary grades and one pre-schooling class to help students prepare and teach them basic language skills. Children begin going to school around the age of five. These students learn the basics, such as math, language, science and history. Education within the empire is highly demanding, with students requiring high grades to succeed or fact starting all over. Most schools work around a nine hour schedule. Breaks between schoolwork are only done once a week, with the exception of holidays or time off for family or medical related issues. Because the children are drafted into the military once they are of age, students also have a rigorous physical education and are given basic skills to help them in the military and life.

Most children finish their primary education around the age of sixteen or seventeen. At this time they are not legally considered adults. To be considered an adult in society, they must pass through military training and fulfill the required service in the military. If they manage to survive and leave the military, they are considered legal adults within society. At this time many take education courses based on what jobs they are interested in, which function similarly to their primary education.

Civilian
The Korvar Empire is controlled by a supreme leader, either an emperor or empress. This individual has control over everything within the empire. The extended family of the emperor also form the royal family, the most powerful and influential family within the empire. Though the supreme ruler makes all official choices, the royal family can also put in its input, and many of them serve prominent positions within the military and government. The emperor has a small council of advisers, all of whom are considered the biggest experts in their field, to help their leader make decisions. Though most of them have no real say if the leader thinks differently. The Emperor can rule the empire for as long as he lives, though the option to step down and let someone else within the royal family take over does exist, albeit, it only happens rarely. Once the emperor dies or leaves office, the oldest of his children is declared the next ruler of the empire. If the emperor had no children, then the spouse will take control, or the closest relative. If no one from the Royal Family is there to take power, the military will take control.

Though the emperor has the final say in everything, all states within the emperor do have a form of self-government. Each planet has a governor in order to exert executive authority on the planet and to make sure the planet economically develop. They are also allowed to put forth laws or regulations specific to that planet, as long as they do not defy imperial law. The planets are not allowed to have any say in alien relations, however. They must also pay a tax to the government and answer to any of its inquiries. Frontier worlds that are not considered states do not have self-government. Instead, they are controlled and maintained by the military until they have developed enough to gain some independence from military rule.

Economy
The economy runs on a system quite similar to a free market. Corporations and individuals are allowed to own land and privately run their businesses without government intervention. This economic freedom has allowed companies to flourish within the empire and has helped to progress the Korvar technologically and economically. Though the majority of corporations do operate in the private sector, others work extensively with the government, especially when it comes to research and mining.

A large portion of the economy is backed up by their rapid production, trading, and constant warring with alien empires. Planetoids and asteroids are constantly being mined out for every last ounce of ore, while the Korvar war machine consumes alien empires and salvages what is left. This has made small empires, such as the Betel, almost irresistible targets for the war machine, as their small size and weak armies normally make them vulnerable targets. The Korvar also have an extensive trade network with their allied empires.

Transportation
The vast majority of transportation within the empire,both planet side and in space, is handled by mass transportation. The idea of personal transportation was never very common save for the early days of automobiles. The need to move large families and their belongings made sure to jump start development of mass transportation methods. Today, large groups of people and supplies can quickly and efficiently be moved across Korvar territory. Most civilian transportation is handled by privately owned corporations, with some exceptions which include the government and military, which use their own transportation network. All official transportation craft have at least a few CDF troops or soldiers inside in order to protect the passengers and keep order.

On the well developed planets, such as those in the Core, cities provide a a variety of ways to travel throughout the planet. Most cities have an intricate subway system connecting the city with the other cities on the planet. Ground side railways and bus stations are also prevalent, along with airways that are also suited for launching craft into space. On largely undeveloped frontier worlds with no mass transportation present, most people use large vehicles which can move up to 8 passengers.

Transportation in and out of the Empire is fairly limited. Civilians are generally not allowed to travel anywhere outside of the empire unless it is space owned by trusted allies or for the purpose of colonization. Likewise, aliens also have a hard time getting into the empire, needing to be checked by both the Korvar and the alien's own race. The alien must also be from allied empires, with all other being turned back or detained.

Fashion
Outside of the military, most civilians wear light, loose fitting clothing which wraps around the body like a coat or cloak. It is designed to be one single piece, rather than separated into shirts and pants. Clothing can be tightened around the waist and shoulders for colder weather, though most keep a second set of heavier, warmer clothing for such climates, or use heat-generating suits if they have the money. Clothing tends to be highly decorative and colorful, with many vibrant patterns and images weaved into the fabric.

Mask are also popular throughout the empire. These mask tend to be fairly large, and are carved into the visage of mighty creatures from mythology. These mask are particularly common at religious ceremonies and celebrations. Some mask have also been made in the visage of aliens, and are normally a sign of respect or even admiration of the race.

For the higher echelons of society, colors such as blue and purple are symbols of high status and wealth. Power Armor has also become a status symbol for the rich. Those who can afford it can purchase a custom made suit of fully functional power armor to their exact specifications. These suits tend to be much less practical for the military, being vibrant, colorful, and adorned with decorations.

Sports
The majority of sports are highly competitive and involve some form of combat. Friendly rivalries between towns, cities, and even entire planets have become a norm within the empire. Advances in technology and expansion into space have only helped to add to the variety of competitive sports. Advances have also helped to revive certain sports, as they previously had a bigger risk of being fatal to the competitors. Some sports are much more recent, such as competitive shooting.

The most popular and oldest sport involves combat between either two people or a group. Participants fight with either their hands or with blunt melee weapons. The rules vary by how it is set up. With melee fighting, the intention is to disarm or incapacitate the other person or team. With fighting with fist, the looser has to be knocked unconscious or forced down to the ground. The individuals who have become masters of this sport were called into the military to help train recruits learning how to use melee weaponry.

Holidays
 Gylsare 

Gylsare is a week long holiday celebrating both the new year and the supposed anniversary of the day the Goddess created the universe. It is the most significant holiday within the empire. The beginning of the festivities is marked with families offering sacrifices to the Goddess. It is quite common during this time that many alien prisoners are offered to the Goddess. These sacrifices are taken and cooked in massive bonfire and eaten in gigantic feast which also serve many other delicacies from across the empire.

Once the feast has concluded, the remainder of the week is spent celebrating. Many will spend hours praying to the Goddess and their ancestors while others will participate in fighting tournaments. The military also participates in the festivities, participating in marches throughout the empire. This is one of the very few times that a soldier is allowed to be sent home during their 15-year required military service, though they cannot go home if they are currently in a campaign.

 Sa'ter Orvain (Day of Unification)

Sa'ter Orvain celebrates the day the Korvar Empire won the War of Unification and unified the world under one banner. It is a day of military parades and paying respect to one's ancestors who were involved in the war, Korvar or not. Many families pay their respect and pray at the numerous cemeteries dedicated to those who died during the war.

 Xarteron Hakon (Emperor's Birthday)

Xarteron Hakon celebrates the birth of the current leader of the Empire. Many come in celebrate in the streets as the military parades through the cities. Many of the royals also come out and participate in the festivities. Xarteron Hakon has an interesting quirk in that it is the only holiday that changes dates. Once the emperor is replaced by his son, the date of the holiday changes to the birthday of the new monarch.

Technology
Though the Korvarians still possess advanced technology in their own right, the empire is still one of the less technology advanced empires in the galaxy. Change comes somewhat slowly in the empire thanks to their conservative nature and slow, careful approach to science. Many innovations are thanks to the studies of their scientist, though the Korvarians are well known for stealing and reverse-engineering technology from alien empires.

Robotic Augmentations
Due to the pressures of the medical field and the military, special emphasis has been put into developing efficient cybernetics and bionics. Many medical procedures relating to the replacing or repairing limbs have become trivial as a robotic replacement can quickly be produced and installed. Robotic life-support systems have also been developed that help keep a person alive after grievous injuries, or to just help keep someone alive well after their natural expiration date. These systems, being somewhat new, are still somewhat bulky and less efficient compared to other empires.

The military has devoted a large amount of resources in the development of combat augmentations for its soldiers. Many soldiers who have decided for extended or permanent service to the empire have received augmentations to help them perform better on the battlefield. A good example being many combat medics, who place robotic arms in place of their wings they they can more easily move around the metal parts from body armor.

Many also have the desire to go to the extreme end of augmentations, giving soldiers the option to replace most of their fleshy body with combat-oriented parts. A secret program was even created to help make the idea a reality. The program, called Project Orsaron, has been making steady progress thus far. It profited quite well from the brief war with the Margan, where many Margan corpses were secretly taken so they could be taken apart and reverse-engineered. The fruits of Orsaron's labors have yet to be fully realized, but they have already made great strides such as fully robotic limbs and organs.

Cloning
The Korvar's venture into cloning technology began near the end of the Sevalria War. Reconnaissance forces sent to an abandoned Bavrian military installation discovered the first cloning facilities deep in the facility's interior. Though the facility was abandoned and deactivated, the cloning stations still worked. A small number of such facilities would be discovered across the ruins of the Bavrian civilization. The facilities were carefully taken apart and moved inside of Korvar territory. After several attempts at replicating the technology, most of which ended in failure in one way or another, scientist were able to successfully replicate the cloning procedure

The cloning was an imperfect process. Clones still took several years to reach adulthood, and had to be carefully monitored to make sure nothing went wrong with the clones. However, given that clones could be raised to be completely loyal to the government and had no family connections, the idea of cloning became popular among the more atheistic scientist and military generals. In secrecy a small army of clones were created and deployed on small empires in order to gauge their effectiveness, and proved to be quite successful.

The concept of cloning quickly turned into a controversial topic among the government and upper echelons of the military. Many were opposed to cloning for ethical reasons. They claimed that using the clones as expendable soldiers was both immoral and expensive. The religious community was outraged, stating how the cloned have no souls and that if they died, they would have no life after death. Many went as far as to declare the cloning a heresy. Others claimed that they were misinterpreting the holy text and that they would manage to go into the afterlife, and that having the clones could protect the lives of "more important" non-cloned individuals.

In the end, the Emperor sided with those opposed to cloning. He commanded that all living clones be given the choice to either serve in the military or settle on a secluded planet until death. Those who chose to serve were once again put to use on the smaller, uneventful fronts in order to not attract any attention. He also ordered that all cloning facilities be deconstructed and brought to Kovas, where they were stored somewhere in Galderis Fortress. The debate about cloning continues for many within the military and scientific community, though little progress has been made on the technology since then. Little information of this has reached the general public, and the facts are mingled with speculation and rumors.

Imperial Armed Forces
Main Page:Korvar Military

The Royal Family
The ruling family of the Korvar Empire. The Royal family are descended from three separate royal families that merged together after the Great World War as part of their unification: the original family of the Korvar Empire, the remnants of the Lekon royal family, and the ruling council of the Lyvairn Dominion. As previously mentioned, most members of the Royal Family serve as military or government officials. Because of the busy lives of the adults, the children are normally raised by their respective parents rather than everyone. They also have much more rigorous education courses and training exercises in order to get them ready for their positions within society.

Warlord Pact
The Korvar are open to other Warlord-affiliated empires and wishes to ally with as many of them as possible, many seeing it as a continuation of the commands the goddess had given them. Some in the empire are wary though, particularly of the Margan, given their xenophobic, genocidal nature putting many on edge.

Margan Empire
Status: Alliance 

"They are like a strange perversion of what the Goddess had created us for. On one hand, they cleanse the universe of the unworthy and continue to prove themselves worthy of being in the goddess' kin. On the other hand, their xenophobic nature will eventually bring them to conflict against us, at least that is how it seems. We will have to remain diligent and cautious with this race." - Ambassador Orvah, a few hours after the peace talks with the Golden Blade Dynasty.

"We are not true allies. They are tools, a means to an end. Once the Peacekeepers are gone, we can deal with these beast." - Emperor Zervath

"I will only work with them for so long. If I could, I would have them butchered and their leaders fed to Karnas. Alive." - Vier Varo to Xelva Ahkavas shortly after the peace treaty was signed.

As it currently stands, the Korvar Empire and Margan are allies. For a brief time during the Korvar's entry into the War, the Margan were attacking the Korvar in order to test their merit. Eventually the Korvar won and were formally entered into the Warlord Pact. Many do not believe the Margan, believing their highly xenophobic and genocidal nature will bring them to conflict with the Korvar down the line.

The Xeverra
Status: Alliance 

"Something seems....off about them. I don't know what it is, they creep me out." - Anonymous soldier.

"Their ideology is strange to say the least, but we have common enemies and want the same conclusion to the conflict. I am perfectly fine with working with them." - Field Commander currently in joint Korvar-Xeverra operations.

The Korvar first encountered the Xeverra during fighting in the Betel warfront. The two quickly became friendly on the field and began cooperating together against Betel forces. An official alliance followed shortly after. The Empire as a whole see the Xeverra's ideology as quite strange, but are willing to accept and work with it.

IAE
Status: Alliance 

"They possess a powerful military and have the backbone to use it. Their technology is superior to ours in many ways, especially when it comes to energy weaponry and space travel. I may not agree with all of their philosophies, but they are valuable allies, we must work with them more in the future." - Diplomat Orvah.

Zaretian Monarchy
Status: Alliance 

"They are perhaps the closest an alien race has come to being what the Goddess envisioned. Their military is vast and powerful, a true sight to behold. I am truly glad to be on their side in this conflict." - Diplomat Orvah

"For too long the Monarchy has been besieged by the Aeveria menace! The time has come to strike back, to destroy what they hold dear, and to free our ally from grasp of these beasts!"- Valxelva Likaros shortly after the Warlord Conference.

The Korvar as a whole like the Zaretian Monarchy much more than some of the other races in the Warlord Alliance and wish to become close allies with them. They view the Monarchy as being in good moral standing and view their king as a sort of savior for taking control and putting the Zaretians in their militaristic path. Improving relations and keeping Breys in power were two main reasons the Korvar became involved in the combined-offensive against the Aeveria Confederation.

Asanian Syndicate
Status: Neutral 

"I could write an entire novel about everything that is wrong with them." - Vier Varo.

"We are on the same side, but that does not mean I wish to work with them. I cannot put up with what they stand for." - Emperor Zervath.

Though on the same side in the Great War, the Korvar wish to keep their distance when it comes to the Asanians. They despise Asanian culture and leadership, seeing it as a dystopian horror show. Their heavy use of cannon-fodder tactics has made them even more unpopular among the military. Many generals have said that they outright refuse to ever work with them unless it is deemed absolutely necessary.

Peacekeeper Alliance
The Korvar believe the Peacekeeper alliance is a threat to their agenda and survival. Because of this, all Peacekeeper-aligned empires are considered major threats.

Empire of Diablos
Status: War 

"The Diabloians are the best the Peacekeepers can bring to bear. A shame they chose the wrong side, they would have made for excellent partners." - Vier Varo.

Korvar forces have recently begun engaging Diabloian forces around their border planets. The Diabloian front is being commanded by Vier Varo. In the short time since fighting began, the Korvar have already developed a respect for the Diabloian Empire. Many praise their military strength and the fighting prowess of their infantry. Diabloian forces have proven very effective against Korvar forces early on in a battle, leading to them scoring several early victories, though Varo's forces have scored their own share of victories.

Betel Recyclers
Status: War 

"Trash. Both literally and figuratively." - Diplomat Orvah

"Cowards." - Vier Varo

"Their time will come, they cannot hold us back forever." - Commander Syrelia

The Betel Recyclers are the second Peacekeeper race the Korvar have encountered. At first, the Korvar thought the Betel were just another, albeit slightly more primitive, Peacekeeper race that they would have to crush. However, more observation quickly discovered that Betel worlds are covered in metal and trash, basically being gigantic resource nodes. As such, a plan was made to sweep through Betel territory, claiming the trash worlds and eliminating the Betel at the same time.

Upon first contact with the Betel, the Korvar were beaten back and retreated. However, further pushes into Betel territory have resulted in several victories and many Betel casualties. Their forces are slowly but surely approaching the important refuse planets with no sign at the moment of stopping.

Aeveria Confederation
Status: War 

"They will face justice for their crimes against the Zaretian Monarchy and its people. The Aeverians will weep as their world's burn and their people are sacrificed to Vahlsrod." - Valxelva Likaros

"I do not see how the people of the Aeveria tolerate living with one another. Their culture, their identity, their sovereignty, would it not all be under threat if they all lived together? How can they trust that one race will not decide they are better than the others?" - Grand Xelva Ahkavas

Karahotdoum Empire
Status: War 

"Ok I will admit it. I like their music. There I said it." - Anonymous soldier

"Tell me again how they see?" - Anonymous Officer

"Some of these Betel have noticeably improved in their fighting ability, I'm actually getting slightly worried." - A very sarcastic Soldier.

As it stands currently, the Korvar have not had any direct interaction with the Karahotdoum Empire. However, there are some Karahotdoum in the Betel front helping to train the Betel military. Many desire to seek to strike them directly, but no such plans have been created yet.

Sauran Solidarity
Status: War 

"This war has made the Sauran into an example. They show others why the way of 'peace' will inevitably lead to destruction." - Likaros.

"They deserve everything they have received." - Vier Varo.

The Rach
Status: War 

"Command, we have a problem. The entire armory is gone. Whoever just stole it must have a sense of humor, they left a boot." - Anonymous squad leader.

Though the Rach and the Korvar have yet to officially encounter one another, the Korvar have been closely monitoring the region affected by the Great War to ensure that Rach intrusion is kept to a minimum. Out of all the Peacekeepers, the Korvar have a special fear of the Rach. They know what such a stealthy species is capable of doing to their supply lines and command structure, and have grown paranoid about assassinations and sabotage. Extensive work is being done in the realm of anti-stealth technology, but it is still not efficient enough to completely halt Rach stealth tactics.

Luminarians
Status: War 

"Is this some sort of sick joke?" - Anonymous Shock Trooper

"It's strange to think that these massive war machines were created by midgets."- Vier Varo

"We need something bigger." - Anonymous engineer.

Thus far, the Korvar have had no official engagements with the Luminarian Empire. Most of their information comes from records and the other warlords. As a whole, the Korvar are impressed by their military technology, especially their mechs and battlestations. Many can also sympathize with their core values, mostly the philosophy of preserving their lives. Engineers have already begun looking into the possibility of creating battlestation-sized machines, but the technology to put them together, and the plans of what they would even be, do not yet exist.

Kastalian Survivors
"You cannot run away from fate, your time in this universe has come to an end." - Anonymous Taern.

Delani Republic
Relation Status: N/A, empire destroyed

Military forces engaged the Delani early into their involvement into the war. By this time the Delani were already weakened by attacks from other Warlord, like the Asanian Syndicate. Direct engagements with the Delani were largely pulled back once the Margan began attacking. Since then, the Delani Republic has been destroyed. No effort has been made to hunt any survivors down, but they have attempted salvaging what they could from Delani remnants.

Holy Nepharian Empire
Status: Neutral 

The Nepharian empire was the first empire officially attacked by the Korvar on a on remote mining world. This attack was mostly done because of the resources on the planet. It turned out to be an isolated incident, as the Korvar quickly became more involved in the Peacekeeper-Warlord conflict and decided to leave neutral forces alone unless they prove to be a risk or prove advantageous to try and conquer. Nepharian forces have yet to respond to the attack, though troops near and on the conquered world remain on standby.

Khasii Consulate
Status: War 

"A goldmine of riches and resources, hidden behind a wall of pompous, egotistical bird-men." - Vier Varo

"Your third eye provides you enlightenment, you say? let's see how long that gets you here." A Shock Trooper moments before impaling a prisoner's third eye.

".....What is this even supposed to be?!" - A soldier observing a Khasii painting.

Transmetallic Confederation
Status: Neutral 

The Wingle Union
Status: Neutral 

"We will deal with these complacent fools later." - Vier Varo

The Korvar have little information regarding the Wingle Union. From what information they do have, they seem to be a complacent, weak race. One that is too focused on neutrality and peace. Nevertheless, few resources have been put towards an assault against them due to their apparent inactivity and due to the presence of much more apparent enemies such as the Peacekeepers.

The Gronian Imperium
Status: Neutral 

Zorock Republic
Status: War 

"They demand "freedom" and "peace," yet all they bring is death and warfare. They are nothing more than liars and hypocrites who, if they win, will force all to follow their rules. We will exterminate them, there is nothing more to it." - Vier Varo

"I respect their military, but I would much rather see them all eviscerated and burned alive." - Commander Syrelia

The Korvar and Zorock have had been at war since they first encountered each other a little over 27 years ago. The Kingdom launched an all-out offensive against the Empire in an effort to wipe out the Korvar and end their expansion and genocide forever. Though initially successful, the Korvar counter-offensive forced Zorock troops out and back to the border. Since then it has been a stalemate, with neither side gaining or losing any significant ground. The border colonies have long been abandoned and replaced with military installations.

Nalstros Space Pirates
Status: War 

"Persistent. Very persistent." - Anti-pirating division soldier.

"They are a constant threat to the outer colonies. One minute you'll be fine and then suddenly they're raining from the sky and stealing everything in sight." - Commander in the anti-pirating division.

For as long as any can remember, the Nalstros have been a persistent nuisance to the Korvar Empire. Though they pose little threat to the more developed colonies and military fortress worlds, the danger they post to the outer colonies cannot be ignored. A large and well-funded division of troops dedicating to hunting down and repelling the Nalstros was formed quite some time ago and has been fairly successful at repelling raids, if they can respond in time.

Biomatter Hordes
'''Status: War. '''

"I'd rather be the personal manslave of the Peacekeepers than absorbed into the horde." - Anonymous soldier

"They are a blight upon the universe. They seek nothing more than the assimilation and enslavement of us all. We must not waste time in destroying them." - A commander within the Anti-Biomatter brigade.

"Rally to me, brothers and sisters! Together we shall cure the world of this demented blight!"

The Korvar's first encountered the Biomatter very shortly before entering the Great War. Since then, incidents have begun popping up in the frontier worlds, albeit slowly. While most incidents have been minor, a small number of worlds have been lost to the creatures. Many are terrified of the potential threat the creatures pose to the empire, as the Korvar currently have little understanding of what exactly the Biomatter are or where they come from. Recently, a task force was created with the task of responding to attacks from the Biomatter and to wipe out any infected planets with any means available. There have also been secret meetings to see if they can somehow join up with another task force in order to receive their experience with the creatures.

Ulqo Sovereignty
"Traitors. I can understand if they do not believe in the Goddess. But abandoning your own people? Running away from the responsibilities that are required of you? They have committed treason, they must be punished."

"You forced us to do this to you, we never wanted to hurt you." - Unidentified Soldier to a group of captured Ulqo soldiers.

The relationship between the Korvar and Ulqo is an unusual one. The Korvar are furious at the Ulqo for having fled from the empire and are seen as traitors throughout society. On the other hand, most do not wish to kill off the Ulqo. They want the Ulqo to face punishment, but still see them as a part of the empire and wish to see them absorbed back in. When an Ulqo settlement is discovered, the response units will attempt to get them to surrender, and will only fight them if they resist.

Trivia

 * The horns located on a Korvar's head are constantly growing and need to be trimmed. This is especially important in the military with the use of power armor. If the horns on the head are not trimmed, a helmet will be unable to fit. The worst possible scenario being that the helmet becomes stuck to the head, which has been known to happen on prolonged battles.


 * Back in their early creature stage, the Korvar developed a symbiosis with a small bird creature. The bird would clean their teeth while they were sunbathing far back in the earliest days of their evolution. Given it is still a fairly common practice for many to bask in the sun in the early morning, and the fact that many keep the bird as pets, the symbiosis never went away, and still continues to this day.


 * The Korvar have come to believe that they were not the only race to have been created by the Goddess Syleris, nor were they the only one to have been enlightened during her time in the universe. They believe that many of the warlike races, including several races involved in the Great War, as creations of the Goddess. However, their faith in her was eventually twisted and evolved into its own, seperate form. These races are the Zaretians, Margan, IAE, Diabloians, and Necraal.