The Great Aspelan Power Struggle
For hundreds of years, the great nations of Aspela and Ceshad have been locked in a brutal war known euphemistically as the Abiding Conflict. It has dominated political affairs and day-to-day life on Oceros for generations, and the countries’ internal power structures have also suffered from the upheaval.
Since the Beginning, Aspela has operated with two powerful leaders: the Grand Cleric and the Grand General. The Grand Cleric is the both the country’s administrative head as well as the head of the Kadisian Monastery that founded the country. The Grand General commands the country’s massive and influential military.
Throughout its history, the balance between these two roles has ebbed and flowed. The pendulum more recently swung firmly towards Grand General Aaima Amer. As the previous Grand Cleric, Jamala Nazar, neared death, the Grand General took advantage of her weakening mind to grab power for the military and ramp up the Abiding Conflict to a fervor not seen since the first years of the war.
How this conflict ends is for you to answer after Ampliterra: Echoes of the Rift releases this fall, but for now, meet a few of the key players in this conflict.
Hafifah Ahsan - Grand Cleric of Aspela. Illustration by Franzilla
Hafifah Ahsan has always followed the Kadisian way of life. Like so many of the Kadisian Monks, Hafifah joined the Monastery after her parents died in the Abiding Conflict. The Kadisian faith’s reverence for the beauty of life helped her process the deep trauma of losing her parents at just seven years old. By the age of eleven, Hafifah was already one of the most knowledgeable monks of the order and was frequently brought into meetings with government leaders.
When Grand Cleric Jamala Nazar died in 203 PB, Hafifah was the obvious choice to be her successor, but it would mean inheriting a messy state of affairs.
Ever since the other monks elected her as Aspela’s leader 180 years ago, Grand Cleric Hafifah Ahsan has worked to restore power to her position. Hafifah hopes to use the recent lulls in the war caused by fluctuations in magic to make a play for lasting peace on Oceros.
Aaima Amer - Grand General of Aspela. Illustration by Franzilla
Aaima Amer has always had a brilliant tactical mind. Unlike so many of her peers growing up, she looked forward to her opportunity to join the Abiding Conflict and see military strategy in action on the Battle Grounds.
That’s not to say that Aaima’s military service was without sacrifice or suffering. Shortly into her tour of duty, she suffered a grievous wound from an arcane cannon that forced her to return to her hometown of Kelna. Undeterred by her setback, Aaima sought other ways to contribute to the war effort. She joined the administrative staff of the army and moved back to Fort Saidi. Aaima quickly rose through the ranks due to her impressive strategic mind and, at twenty-eight years old, she became the army’s youngest-serving general.
Aaima’s long appointment afforded her the opportunity to flex the military’s muscles in Aspelan society more than ever before. She has cultivated her beloved public image to exert more influence over government operations. She aims to continue the Abiding Conflict as long as possible to maintain the glory of Aspela, the economic benefit to the manufacturing industries, and the funds flowing into Fort Saidi.
How do you think this power struggle will end?
Austin
