Division of the Golden Empire

The Khameni Empire - or the Golden Empire - has stretched across the Golden Coast for centuries as a united people under the rule of it's emperors. When Empress Audi gave birth to a pair of twin boys, Akhari and Adhio, she made the fateful decision that upon her death the two boys should rule jointly over the empire, a decision which would carry severe repercussions in the following decades. Upon Audi's death, the first conflicts of interest between the brothers began within the first year, until things came to a head after an assassination attempt on Emperor Akhari by poisoning. 

Akhari miraculously survived the potent poison and accused his brother Adhio for the deed, whom vehemently denied this. The rift grew until it was that the emperors both declared themselves the true rulers of their empire, leading to the division into the empires of An-Akhar to the west and An-Adhi to the east. Although unwilling to wage open war against their own blood, tensions continue to rise as they both make their claims on their birthright, while the city of Qiroth rebelled against both twins, as it's master General Afi refused to dishonour the proclaimation of the twins' mother. Now both twins scheme and plan to gain control over Qiroth in a push to break the present stalemate that has seen the Golden Coast split down the middle. 

Following his recovery, Akhari came to the epiphany that no mere mortal could have survived the poison he lived through, declaring himself one of the aasimar, a descendant of A-ro himself. He has modeled his empire increasingly after the scraps of lore detailing the past rulers of the coast's cities, ordering new monuments in his own image and putting his whims to law. In addition, fading practices of slavery are being reinvigorated, pressing debtors and criminals into service to satisfy the need for labour with his new vanity projects. 

Adhio, ever pragmatic, has gone the opposite way of his brother in public protest, by wiping away old taboos surrounding the sacred sites of the ancients. Opening necropolises and unearthing old tombs, he has invited adventurers to delve into previously forbidden caches of lore and treasure, making tidy profits even as inexperienced hopefuls throw their lives away in the eager pursuit of fortune. Adhio has been more proactive than his brother in trying to reclaim Qiroth, with the usage of bribes and spies, scooping up every dissident from Afi's army that he may use against her. 

With The Golden Coast divided, it's armies facing their shield toward each other instead of it's enemies, the lives of the common folk is harder than ever as barbarians and outlaws eagerly exploit every chink in the once mighty armour of the Golden Empire.