The King is a Woman (Crepusculum)

History of Terra Rubra

The Insula Cerulea-the land of abundant natural resources. The people were fishers, agriculturists, and hunters. Numerous natives were also trained to become weavers. They were skilled traders, and the economy was booming way back then. Although there was no single monarch, there were city-states or groups of people, usually composed of a chieftain who ruled, alongside his advisors, slaves, warriors, and merchants. Being a country with many islands and blessed with a strategic location, it was very hard to invade them, but not impossible.

The land was not fully shielded against conflict, as natural disasters always strike up. But it was a catastrophic earthquake in the 13th century that crippled hundreds of city-states, displaced countless people, and left the nation completely vulnerable. Seizing this opportunity, a force from the northwest, led by the famed warlord Dominato, invaded. Capitalizing on the chaos, Dominato's army swiftly occupied the weakened country and established his rule. This marked a dark period for Insula Cerulea, as many citizens, especially those in the southern city-states, fiercely resisted the invaders.

However, the foreigners were strong and determined.

Dominato, the initial leader who unified the conquered territories, declared himself king in 1278 and renamed the land from Insula Cerulea to Terra Rubra meaning, the Red Soil. His reign marked the beginning of an unofficial dynasty. Dominato's son continued the military expansion, paving the way for his grandson, Diemori the Great, to become the first universally recognized king of the land (1323-1358).

In honor of his grandfather, Diemori the Great established the Dominato lineage. Henceforth, rulers would be formally addressed as "Dominato," followed by a numeral denoting their position in the succession. The king after Diemori the Great, therefore, would be known as "Dominato IV" as he was the Dominato III.

The first five kings of the Dominato clan were masters of manipulation. They perpetuated a fabricated narrative claiming that Dominato I's ancestors were descendants of the unified gods, Diem and Nox. This myth portrayed these ancestors as chosen ones, sent to discover the then-named Insula Cerulea, save it from an impending doom, and ultimately rule the land.

The people of Terra Rubra, weary from recent turmoil, were receptive to the Dominato dynasty's promises. The rulers painted a hopeful picture, an empire flourishing under their reign for thousands of years to come. Desperate for stability and tired of wars, the populace readily embraced this vision. Diemori the Great, particularly obsessed with legitimizing his rule, capitalized on Dominato I's fabricated divine ancestry. Grand temples dedicated to Diem and Nox, collectively worshipped as Diemnox, rose across Terra Rubra, solidifying their claim. Diemori further elevated the royal family by encouraging his own worship as an intermediary to the gods.

Subsequent Dominato rulers maintained a strong military and centralized the economy, making sure the dependence of the people on the throne.

Diemori the Great solidified his control by appointing his trusted comrades as dukes of the twelve newly created regions. These military leaders, following Diemori's example, adopted formal surnames and banners, giving rise to the Twelve Houses that ruled the duchies: Leonis, Drallion, Aegis, Azure, Lyron, Crygan, Ferrum, Kakuge, Velox, Kymera, Elfriede, and Usagi.

For centuries, the Dominatos reigned supreme in Terra Rubra. Their power was absolute, their bloodline the unquestioned rulers. The tale of Dominato I's divinely-blessed ancestors and their invincibility was gospel. No one dared question it. No one could ever defeat a Dominato. Or could they?

And thus here we begin, with Dominato I's successor, the Dominato XIII ascending the throne.