Empire of Bourdeleaux

The Empire of Bourdeleaux is an expansionist, militaristic, and multi-ethnic nation located upon the fringes of Naros. Their flag depicts the fatherly Great Sun, in which many aspects of Bourdelaic life are governed by.

The Bourdelaic Empire rules over vast swaths of land in southwestern Naros, with many native populations becoming incorporated beneath their Souvesian monarch. The Empire is host an impressive mining and blacksmithing industry, as well as boasting an impressive amount of professional soldiers.

They are a nation of benevolent rulers, fixated upon bringing Light to the Darkness and setting in motion the Bright One's 'Great Plan.'

Origins of Bourdeleaux
The origins of what now constitutes the Empire of Bourdeleaux is largely shrouded in history, with many sources indicating there was perhaps a great loss of knowledge of world history some millennia ago due to a catastrophic societal collapse. As a result, many Bourdelaic scholars and theorists have begun to construct their own interpretations of Bourdeleaux's humble beginnings.

The most common theory, and the upheld by both the Imperial Household and the Church of the Great Sun is that of the great prophet, Moravec. It is believed that Moravec and his followers had originated from the former Symon Duchy of Selrok. Said to have been following the path of the Sun, he and the proto-Bourdelaise migrated westwards, reaching Revar's gulf, where they settled upon the Souvesian estuary and founded their first city, Souvois. These years were regarded as turbulent and unstable, with the new settlement constantly beset upon by outside forces, including several mountain clans to the east, and the Westfal civilization to the south. Much of his life was spent campaigning and repelling these foreign threats. However, when the dust settled and order was restored, Moravec was documented as disappearing into the Sunset, leaving behind only a son and a nation. It is believed that he joined with the Great Sun in the Heavens and became heralded as the faith's first Exalted.

Conflict
In recent years, the Empire of Bourdeleaux has sought rapid territorial expansion at the expense of their adjacent neighboring nations. In a decisive campaign to the south, the land of the Westfallians has been incorporated as a semi-autonomous province of the Empire. Some years later, another invasion swept towards the Roots of the World, solidifying much of the Carrowlands under Bourdelaic authority. Though pacifist parties within the Empire have claimed that these wars have done more harm than good for the Bourdelaic peoples, the staunch conservatives maintain that the conquests were in the name of ensuring the stability of Bourdeleaux's borders and spreading the faith of the Great Sun, and bringing salvation to misguided peoples.