For a thousand years, the Eternal Empire has expanded across the land like day breaking across the world. There were two simple reasons for the Empire's expansion and stability. First, they embraced all cultures and religions. There were no second-class citizens in the Empire. Everyone existed under the care of the Divine Emperor. Secondly, the Empire had the support of the Mages. When you have the support of men and women who can control the very elements and make them do their bidding, there is not much that can stand in your way.

Along the way, there were numerous challenges. But the Empire never once faltered. The Mages' power over the elements gave birth to great advancements in engineering. Terrible war machines were constructed that simply brooked no argument. Dissent was crushed swiftly.

Today, the Empire stretches from its birthplace near the Teryth Ocean in the east to the Sea of Storms in the west. It rules over millions of people of different ethnicities and culture. But even in its most rebellious province, there are thousands that will die for the Emperor without hesitation. Such is the power of divinity.

But for the first time in its history, the Empire faces an enemy that it cannot quite understand. When the Empire discovered lands beyond the Sea of Storms, parties were sent out to ascertain the nature of the locals. At first, the entire land seemed uninhabited by humans. Thick forests covered the land. New beasts were discovered, strange of appearance and stranger ways of killing. The Imperials encountered poisons they had no antidotes for. There seemed nothing worthwhile in these new lands.

All that changed with the first sighting of the Tribals. They were a small community deep inside the jungle. No more than ten thousand. They welcomed the newcomers guardedly. The Tribals were initially curious about the Imperials - these tall men and women from across the Dawn Sea (that's what they called the Sea of Storms). The Imperials, for their part, were shocked by the discovery. The Tribals were small in numbers, but they were by no means primitive. They had their shamans and witch mothers who worked a lot like the Mages in the Empire. But rather than elemental magic, these shamans used the very life powers of nature. They could control animals, they could coax trees to bend to their will, they could imbibe the aspect of an animal in a warrior, and worst of all, they knew how to fight.

The fighting began when the citizens of the Empire discovered the joys of smoking maltahil. Maltahil is kind of sage that grows in the drier lands beyond the Tribes' forests. Apart from curing most of the virulent diseases, the herb also prolonged life. The Tribals had no qualms about trading the leaves, but they controlled the trade on their terms. This was not acceptable to an Empire that has always had things its way. The Empire vastly and disastrously underestimated the power of the Tribals and tried to conquer them.

It was as if the very forests had decided to fight the Empire. From the annoying zeezee fly to the fearsome panther, from the deadly cobras to the carnivorous plants - every creature of the Forest turned against the imperials. The Mages, with all their understanding of the elements, had met their match in the mysterious shamans and witch mothers of the Tribe.

It is now two years since fighting began, and there seems to be no respite. There have been heroes for both sides, victories and defeats for either side. Morale is dipping within the Empire, the people unable to comprehend how a mighty Empire can be held at bay by a flyspeck little tribe. Will this finally lead to a more widespread loss of faith in the Emperor?

Among the Tribals, there are many who feel that they can't hold out for long. The outside world was trying to get in, with its luxury products and temptations. For centuries they had led a simple, sustainable life in harmony with nature. All that was being threatened by the Empire. Threatened not just by war, but also by peace. Can the Way of the Leaf survive against the love for silk and perfumes?

The RP will be largely set in the Tribal lands. The Empire has secured a beachhead and has also established a couple of command posts in the forest interior. But the Tribes are far further inland and have unrestricted movement through the forest thanks to their superior knowledge. You can choose to play a tribal or an imperial, shaman or mage. The OOC will contain details about the magic and technology.

This RP will be largely politicking with action thrown here and there. Let me know if this sounds interesting and I will start on the OOC.