The Empire of Mu was formed under the leadership of Ferdinand the Great – First Emperor of Mu. At the time, the lands were in disarray following the Baron Wars and the overthrow of Razen, the despotic King of the Munkatha. 

Ferdinand united the Great Houses under his banner and formed the united realm of Muaryia. This included the pronouncement of the seven duchies; Inkatha and Sinkatha (formerly of the Kingdom of Munkatha), Ashtal, Baálak, Dyrth, Mogarran, and Zukerland.

The five realms bordering Muaryia (in order of joining the Empire) include; the highlands of Krakenlore (to the North), the desert lands of Harkens (West), the verdant plains of Verderan (North East), New Illanthea home to the invading sea people (South) and lastly the secluded lands of the Ordea; formerly of the fallen Holy Ordean Empire. 

The Imanishi claim to be the true descendants of the first great civilisation of mankind. Following the Tempest that destroyed the ancient capital of Onness, the sea retreated to leave great tracks of sand. A climatic event known as The Desolation caused the formation of the Harkens Desert.

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​If the desertification wasn't trouble enough, the Tempest opened a gate to the twilight demon world of Kharon unleashing its denizen hoards. At night the survivors of the Tempest were ravaged by demonic terrors, and by day subjected to a harsh land that was turning into desert. Mankind was decimated and civilisation lost. During the Dark Ages that followed, this struggle for survival bred the hardy desert nomads known as the Imanishi.

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​Regarded as the fiercest of warriors, the Imanishi continue to defend the empire’s western flank battling the nocturnal denizens in the catacombs underneath the Harkens Desert. Many believe that the Imanishi's struggle against a nightmarish foe has taken them beyond returning to civilized society.

In the upheaval that destroyed Onness, navigable passes opened to enable the migrations of peoples through the frozen wildernesses beyond the Kraken Ranges and Atlans Mountains . The first of the new arrivals were the tall and strongly built “Highlanders.”

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Three Highlander clans survived the miraculous passage to discover the volcanic lands of Krakenlore. Upon arrival, they were heralded by dragon kind as the Kraken or “the chosen ones.” The Kraken learned to live with dragon kind and formed alliances or kindren with the gold, red and black scaled dragons. These kindren quickly grew in power and influence over the lands.

In the midst of the Dark Ages, the High Lords of Krakenlore descended from the north and crushed the land grabbing barons and power hungry mages. In concert with their dragon masters they reigned supreme over much of Mu for hundreds of cycles. Under Krakenlore rule, a long period of civilised development ensued. 

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It all changed when the rivalry between the three dragons races or Draken got out of hand. A war erupted that pitched one kindren alliance against the other.  For over three hundred solar cycles the kindrens of Ragnorök (gold), Rogen (red) and Orlog (black) battled in their remote volcanic highlands of the far north. In the High Lords absence, Krakenlore rule over Mu fell into abeyance. A power vacuum was created, and an Age of Empire building ensued giving rise to new kingdoms and new realms. Dragons were no longer seen, and for most long forgotten, accept as tales in folklore.

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Enclosed by a two thousand foot escarpment of Sheerfell, and protected by a treacherous rocky coastline, Ordea is a world of sea mists and forests. Famous for their cliff face abodes and coastal fortress keeps, the Ordeans claim to be the descendants of neighbouring realms and distant offshore lands.

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In the early ages, like most places of the time, these secluded and protected lands consisted of feudal Barrens. Isolated and undisturbed, civilisation advanced quickly and gave rise to three ancient religious communities steeped in the arcane arts. Each grew in prominence to establish cities of learning. The Order of Light rose in the City of Lagos along with the Order of Healing in Helios and the Order of Powers in the forbidden island city of Vedic Noir.

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It was Astera, High Priestess of The Powers and the eldest daughter of Baron Atellion who fulfilled the prophecy of “The promised lands of Tahkt.” She united the three Holy Orders and conquered the coastal lands of modern Mu; including the Lands of Tahk, and the vassal states Ormuzd & South Essenee to form the Holy Ordean Empire - the First Empire of Mu.

The Holy Ordean Empire ushered in a new era of civilization for humankind. Merchant Barons rose in prominence and an age of trade and prosperity ensued. It peacefully co-existed with the Muaryians during the overthrow of Razen, the despotic Munkathan King, which preceded the emergence of the Empire of Mu. ​The Holy Ordean Empire lasted for almost two centuries. Having never married, Astera appointed her consorts and eldest son to rule as the empire’s potentates. The true political power, however, vested in the Ordean Ruling Council, which was controlled by the Vitaras or city leaders of Lagos, Helios, and Vedic Noir.

Historians argue the decline began with the death of its founding Empress and the abrogation of control to the provincial potentates. As time passed, and the potentates became insular and squabbled. Finally, it was only the superior might of the Imperial Navy and the sea trade it protected that united the Empire.

It was the Illanthaen arrival, led by an armada of refugees that led to the empire's ultimate demise. In a climactic battle fought at Termanin Sound, the Illanthean High Seas Fleet defeated the Ordean Imperial Navy. Its power base vanquished, the Holy Ordean Empire collapsed leaving ancient Tahkt as the only remnant of the Empire. Factional wars, pirate raids, and pillaging descended Tahkt into an unruly realm. The three independent city-states of Lagos, Helios, and Vedic Noir remained the only bastions of law and order.

In the northwest of Mu, the sweeping grassland plains of Verderan are enclosed by the frozen wildernesses of Atlans. Verderan boasts the most productive farm and hunting lands of Mu, and is renowned for its horse breeding and wagon & chariot craftsmanship. It is home to two peoples:

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The North Essenee were part of the influx of peoples that followed the Tempest. Olive skinned with lean musculature and almond-shaped hazel-green eyes, the North Essenee were distinctly different in appearance to their fairer skinned southern cousins. Originally, nomadic graziers and hunters, the North Essenee had to repulse marauding trolls from the Atlans mountains, negotiate difficult relations with warring Woodelven to their east, and defend their western flank from opportunistic Highlanders. In surviving these threats, the North Essenee rose in fighting prowess to become the Empire's most celebrated warrior horsemen - the mighty Riders of Essenee. 

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While the North Essenee were kept busy fending off neighbour incursions, South Essenee became a vassal state of the Holy Ordean Empire. When the empire's navy was defeated by the seafaring Illantheans, the North Essenee annexed the South from Ordean control and formed the greater Realm of Verderan. Due to its importance as a center of trade and commerce, Antark the ancient port city of South Essenee became Verderan's seat of power.  

When the volcanic upheavals began, the Illantheans began fleeing their island homeland. Those that found the shores of Ormuzd were rounded up and incarcerated. Antioch, the opportunistic potentate had them interned as slave labour to work on his ambitious Great Works program.

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Lunars later, an armada of refugees arrived protected by the warships of the Illanthean High Seas Fleet. Led by its Qesar, King Fārādin, the Illantheans promptly established a foothold in the Wild Isles. After several failed diplomatic exchanges, the Illanthean High Seas Fleet engaged the Holy Ordean Imperial Navy in a mighty battle at Termanin Sound. King Fārādin was victorious and in so doing crushed the Holy Ordean Empire’s power base.

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When the Illantheans annexed Ormuzd, the Northern Essenee took South Essenee and proclaimed the united lands of Verderan. Shortly following, Emperor Constantine convinced newly formed Realm of Verderan to join the Empire of Mu. Not wishing to become isolated, King Fārādin offered to pledge allegiance and join this newly emerging Empire. At first, the Imperial Council resisted. Constantine prevailed and the Illantheans were ultimately invited onto the Imperial Council. The seafaring Illantheans quickly added to increased trade and prosperity. In recognition, Fārādin was appointed Sealord to the Empire.

In the soles that followed the fall of the Holy Ordean Empire, the remnant lands of Takht fell into disarray and were subjected to baron turf wars and pirate raids. It wasn't until the rise of the warrior mage, Lord Adakar that order was restored to the lands of Tahkt. In a bloody campaign, the warring barons were united under his banner of House Malikae. Adakar re-established a feudal system of rule across the lands and built coastal outposts and fortresses to repel the pirate raiders.

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Eventually, Adakar proclaimed himself as the hereditary Archduke of the Realm. The Lands of Tahkt were renamed Ordea, and Ordea was later joined to the Empire as its Sixth Realm.

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During Adakar’s rise to power, the three city-states of Lagos, Helios, and Vedic Noir remained under the control of the Holy Orders and independent of House Malikae rule.