The Stravin Empire dominates the south of Ur'vael. It is a vast and disciplined power built on faith, wealth, and righteous fervour. As the heart of the Luminism faith, it wields spiritual authority. Religion permeates every aspect of Stravin life. Their form of Luminism is strict, hierarchical, and militant, teaching that the world is a battleground between the divine Light and the creeping chaos of the wilds. They view druidic traditions with suspicion and disdain, seeing them as dangerous remnants of a chaotic past. To Stravins, civilisation must be protected at all costs, and the empire's expansion is touted not as conquest but as salvation. Pressure from the south had been slow and deliberate, but the recent rumours of a newly discovered power seem to have redoubled their territorial goals.
The Empire is ruled by Empress Isabella, blessed by the goddess Strava to unify all of humanity under her radiance. Serving under the Empress are an advisory council of nobility and military officials as well as several Holy Orders. The Order of Palatine serves the Empire as elite knights and monster hunters. The Order of Animus serves the Empire in its academic and magical pursuits. The Order of Respite maintains the sacred relics and holy sites across the realm. The newly established Order of Salvation serves the Empire leading its naval endeavours.
In recent decades, the Stravin Empire embarked on a campaign to reclaim the influence it once wielded across Ur'vael. Many of the smaller disparate nations were more than amenable to the idea of reunification of the empire, believing that only imperial strength could protect them from lurking monsters. These smaller principalities were re-absorbed and new roads, fortifications, and settlements were established along these frontier regions. However the Stravin Empire has a strong Verran first rhetoric, claiming other lineages are a corruption of the human spirit and more akin to the monsters they fight against. Thus an influx of refugees from these new territories fled to friendlier shores such as the far more welcoming Anderlynd.
Now it seems even the seas are no longer a barrier for the Empire's reach as construction of massive ships complete and sail off to unknown lands. Whatever the Stravin explorers found has convinced the Empress that this is a sign from Strava herself. The dawning of a new age is at hand.