The God-Emperor

A so-called demigod or god-like mortal who ruled the entire world with an iron fist for over 5,000 years. While most references to the God-Emperor have been erased from history, we believe a few things based on surviving fragments of scrolls and tomes.

First: he was likely human and likely rose to power, rather than, say, descending from the heavens in godly form. Second: hundreds of Holy Wars were fought against him over his reign. Third: he was the father of the aasimar species.

There is debate as to whether there was one God-Emperor who lived the entire 5,000 year span, or if there were several. (You'll often see historians speak of different God-Emperors, e.g. God-Emperor IV, God-Emperor VII, etc.) More modern takes on the concept of the God-Emperor are that his position was more likely propaganda, and that an actual "God-Emperor" could have been more of a puppet role.

Whatever the case, his rule was harsh; the God-Emperor is credited with the creation and subjugation of the "monstrous" species (goblins, orcs, etc), which he used as his primary military force against any and all who would defy him. Similarly, most peoples were essentially, at best, servants, and at worst, slaves, to the God-Emperor. It seems that he had no empathy toward mortal beings whatsoever and used them at his merciless whim.

Around 1,000 years ago, the Last Holy War finally broke through his defenses, and the God-Emperor was slain. His corpse was cut into 100 pieces and laid along the stone floor at the top of the Eredine Citadel in Carantia, which was renamed the Tower of the Old Man. The tower is protected by the Darkwraiths, who forbid any god or mortal from entering.