Description
The Aegis Ascendancy is a young theocracy that rules over a confederacy of city-states in Wakova. When Ardeiria Valiron returned from her lone pilgrimage to the Mispeaks, she gained a following by spreading the word of her encounter with Teno the Seeker. This gave her the political power necessary to transform the city of Aegis in to a powerhouse of drive and ambition. Using this power and the riches she discovered in the Mistpeak Mountains, she began implementing the word of Teno and his new anti-magic sentiments in to law. While some of the neighboring city-states like Seraph's Dawn pushed back the against the tenets of the Order of Teno, the protection and riches the Ascendancy had to offer was something many could not refuse. It was easy to convince many on the dangers of magic, the Desolate Cascade and the Storm of Darkness were both enough proof of that. Under the leadership of Pontifex Valiron, Aegis has become a religious and political power house under her Ascendancy.
Goals
Ardeiria Valiron's reasoning for traveling to the Mistpeaks was because of the Nexentrum Empire. The Empire had begun to run Aegis' treasury dry, demanding larger incremental taxes over time. Fearing an eventual takeover and erasure of her people's culture, she left to find a way to stop the encroaching imperialists.
While the Aegis Ascendancy's main goal is to keep the Nexentrum Empire in check, they are also concerned with maintaining the trade and commerce to expand their influence, both in Aevira and the rest of Aurora. Anything that might jeopardize business is viewed as a major threat to the sanctity of life along the Golden Coast. Faced with the possibility of war with the Nexentrum Empire, as well as piracy on the open waters, the Ascendancy has been employing a substantial number of adventurers and mercenaries.
Relations
The Ascendancy's main rival is the Nexentrum Empire, as it poses the largest threat to their way of life. In terms of allies, after the Invasion of Mistreach, the Ascendancy took control of the region and turned it into a self governed province, as long as they would answer in times of need.
The Order of Teno has the largest amount of influence within the Ascendancy. Pontifex Valiron is the sovereign of Aegis and head of the Order.
Symbols
The main symbol is a golden eye on a silver shield.