Empire of the Twin Lamps

The Empire of the Twin Lamps was the original governing body of the Roanian nation. Almost all of its history is gone now, and what is known can be quickly summarised.

Pre-imperial Altecrast History

Altecrast's history was, like that of most planets, one of constant wars of conquest. Unlike many planets, however, those societies which were absorbed generally remained quiescent, serving the new government like they had the old. This meant that roughly 700 years before the formation of the Empire of the Twin Lamps, Roanian society had polarised between three or four immense powers, at a very high degree of technological growth. Peace held for fifty years or so, it's believed. However, the aim of the Roanian race is always to strive for greater unity, no matter how many lives are lost.

War of the Falling Stars

Even more planetwracking than the War of Shadows and Light, at the end of the War of Falling Stars Altecrast was united at the cost of nearly a third of the planet's population. The newly constituted regime is referred to as the Empire of the Twin Lamps, taking its name from the two stars of the Altecrast system.

Emperor Baliel the First and Only

Baliel is, as of yet, the only Altecrastian Emperor known to Roanian history, and therefore he is assumed by the Roanians to have been the only one. All other references to Emperors take the form of titles, though the Roanians hope to find a full archive someday. All that is known of this man is that he 'wrested the governance from his enemies' and 'established control over all the universe'.

Colonies

The Altecrastian Emperor(s) sent out colonies as a method of population control. All of them, except Rudan Prime and Midpoint, vanished with the fall of the Empire of the Twin Lamps, as lack of supplies forced the colonists to gravitate to the new centers of population.

Ailisara, the Emperor's Garden

Ailisara is one of the gems of the Divine Imperium, a pristine orb of islands floating in a tranquil sea. A geologically young world, evidence suggests that it was settled by Baliel as a pleasure world, only to be abandoned and lost when the Empire fell.

Recently the tropical paradise has been rediscovered, and under the leadership of the Cheruv family the pleasure resorts of Ailisara have reopened for business, using the advertising slogan "Experience your history". Currently ZMI consultants are well into the process of devising a new slogan.

Pre-Divine Imperial ruins exist on some of the larger islands, though serious study hasn't commenced yet.

Death of the Empire

The Empire of the Twin Lamps fell a scant 300 years after it was first founded, owing to an unusual occurence, namely both stars flaring at once directly at the world. Computing systems and defensive machinery are believed to have failed, allowing wandering pirates (conjecture by the Roanians from established sources found in the archives of Imperial City) to attack the planet and deliver heavy blows before power could be restored. As well, several experimental weapons are believed to have malfunctioned, irradiating tracts of the planet's surface (a possible explanation for the higher than average background radiation in some parts of the planet). The Empire kept on for a few years before a second flare ripped apart the survivors, inspiring them to abandon the planet for the relative safety of Rudan Prime and Centerpoint.

Legacy

If Joseph the Great was aware of Roanian history, as some claim, then the Divine Imperium might have been an attempt to legitimise his regime by claiming descent from the old empire, much like Alexander II did by adding 'Keeper of the Twin Lamps' to his roll of titles when his ancestor's journals and the ruins were found.

Against this must be argued the Shadowlord's tenacity in obliterating Roanian history prior to their rule. It is doubtful that even one of their highest generals would be allowed such knowledge, out of fear he would betray them (as he in fact did).