Special Thanks To

My proofreading and copy editor, MiriaJiyuu, without whom this massive work of fanfiction would never have happened. I also want to thank my biggest fan, bmesias063 of Deviantart, who has tirelessly been cranking out fanart based upon the novels. Special mention goes to Humida and all my reviewers, all of whom helped motivate me to write the biggest claymore fanfiction in history. I also want to thank gooloo0-o of Deviantart, who did the magnificent custom covers for books 1 & 2. If you haven't seen them I urge you to check them out in full size over at Deviantart. Stay tuned to see when the sequel first drops (probably around New Year's).

About the Story

Some people probably are wondering what drove me to write such a huge story and why it took so long on these last few chapters. The latter is easy to answer, as it turned out my old laptop's motherboard was beginning to fail and cause problems. Thankfully everything was backed up before it failed completely, which is why I could finish this story. As for motivations, I've got more than a few. I'm writing for all the fans of Claymore out there who asked, reasonably, "wait a minute, they're living in a medieval period, why are there no bows and arrows around?" As it turns out, there are a ton of things that Norihiro Yagi could have explored but didn't. He barely touched upon religion. The politics that is driving the story's background is grossly simplistic. His heroes are often ridiculously naïve and or altruistic. His villains, like a few of the more recent ones, are a bit too one-sided. It's not a bad story, but manga limits storytelling in obvious ways.

What I set out to do was flesh out Yagi's story and add more realism to it. You might think of it as mixing George R.R. Martin's approach to "Game of Thrones" with Claymore. That's certainly part of it, but I have other inspirations, like Timothy Zahn, whose character, Grand Admiral Thrawn, still manages to inspire the Star Wars universe years after his debut and subsequent demise. Zahn and Martin are two great authors of this genre, and if you haven't read their works, I highly recommend them. Zahn made a Star Wars 'villain' so charismatic and humane you often ended up rooting for him. Martin fleshed out a tremendous backstory to his works that helped make the HBO show as believable as it is. I set out to combine a bit of their style with my own. I fleshed out the island's history, its religion, the mainland, the characters, institutions, and technologies of the manga. I also added more realistic physics, richer detail to the characters, new technologies that would change warfare, and the dangerous world of politics. In short, Claymore became a way more interesting story.

Anyone can do a Teresa-centered story and get a huge number of hits. That wasn't what I set out to get though. What I wanted was a quality story that improved my writing and gave you something good to read. I hope by the end of all this you agree with that sentiment. You may be wondering, good grief, how do you keep track of the insane number of characters and history you've added? Well one way is I developed a sizable glossary that has made it much easier to recall characters as I write. The other is that I finally put pencil to paper and came up with a hugely detailed world map. The glossary of this book you can find below, and it's mostly based on early events, not later events, fyi. As for the world map, well, I'd go over to deviantart dot com and see if a certain MiriaJiyuu has completed putting it all together. Hope everyone enjoyed this as much as I did, and stay tuned for the upcoming sequel, "Clash of Thrones".

Glossary for "The Silver-eyed Empress"

Countries

Superpowers

Romanow Empire

Semi-authoritarian state

Sovereign: Cesarzowa Katarzyna Faraja Romanowa

Ruling House: Romanow

Includes Cesarzowa's stepsister Rima, her stepsister Bastia and Bastia's husband Leon

Currency: Cesarski Krone (Imperial Krone)

Main language: Comnenian

One of two superpowers; known for its highly effective professional army, outlawing of slavery, and the abolishment of serfdom, all stark contrasts to the Grand Alliance.

Major Rivals: Grand Alliance, Kingdom of Breton

Flag: Golden Imperial Eagle (two heads) upon black background

Throne name: "The Golden Throne"

Capital: Visegrad

Institutions of the Romanow Empire (those seen in book):

Gwardia Srebrny (Silver Guard): Several hundred-strong force of elite loyal silver-eyed slayers who serve as personal protectors and bodyguards of Romanow Imperial Family. They are known for wearing unbreakable duratium plate armor.

Gwardia Cesarska (Imperial Guard): 100,000-strong force of elite veteran soldiers who protect the Romanow Imperial Family and are only committed to battle in the most dire of circumstances. They answer directly and only to the sovereign.

Chancellory: Office and residence of the Grand Chancellor, a position created to act as the Cesarzowa's head of government.

War Ministry: Branches include the Romanow Imperial Army (and its intelligence service), the Romanow Imperial Navy, Imperial Volunteers and the Imperial Intelligence Service.

Romanow Cesarski Armia (Romanow Imperial Army): Massive multi-million man force composed of millions of conscripts and volunteers and commanded by the world's best professional army officer corps. It is being rapidly updated with gunpowder weapons and is widely regarded as the most powerful army on the planet.

Foreign Ministry: Responsible for all things abroad in peacetime through its ambassadors; known for working in tandem with Imperial Intelligence Service.

The People of the Romanow Empire:

Imperial Family:

Cesarzowa "Katarzyna I" Faraja Romanowa: Head of State and Supreme Commander of Imperial Forces; the only child of late Baron Bernard Romanow and his late wife, Faraja Romanowa.

Crown Princess Rima Romanowa: Heir to the throne and Deputy Supreme Commander of Imperial Forces. Rima is the elder stepsister of Katarzyna Romanowa and one of six elite warriors that are especially influential in the Romanow Empire's politics; mixed-race daughter of Malaccan and Maghrebi parents.

Princess Bastia Romanowa: Third-in-line to the throne and younger stepsister of Katarzyna Romanowa. Bastia is one of six elite warriors that are especially influential in the Romanow Empire's politics and only daughter of late Comnenian monarchs King Lech and his wife Queen Anna.

Princess Kasia Romanowa: Fourth-in-line to the throne; younger stepsister of Katarzyna Romanowa and an accomplished commander; daughter of mixed-race parents.

Duke Leon Romanow (nee Gonzalez): Husband of Princess Bastia Romanowa and of Asturian descent.

Members of Imperial Government:

Antoni Poniatowski: War Minister and former Supreme Commander of the Allied Army Command and Field Marshal of the defunct Alliance of Nations; second son of Baron Anton III Poniatowski.

Anders Bergen: Foreign Minister of Romanow Empire; he is the son of a former Vastgoeterlander diplomat.

Count Andrei Tuluzy: former Silver Guardsman and current Imperial Ambassador to the Dominion of Toulouse. He is the husband of Audrey Tuluzy and of Comnenian descent.

Baron Josef Lazarov: former Silver Guardsman and Vice Imperial Ambassador to the Dominion of Toulouse and of Comnenian descent.

Countess Audrey Tuluzy: former Silver Guardswoman and former Number 3 warrior in the Organization. She is currently the First Lady of the Imperial Embassy in Rabona andof Rabonese descent.

Countess Dietrich Tuluzy: Aide to Princess Kasia Romanowa and former Number 8 warrior in the Organization; of Rabonese descent.

Members of Armed Services:

Jaroslaw Tusk: Colonel in the Imperial Guard and friend of Vice Marshal Alexei Suvorov; of Comnenian descent.

Marshal Massena: A high-ranking commander in the Romanow Imperial Army of Rivolian descent.

Marshal Singh: A high-ranking commander in the Romanow Imperial Army of Bengali descent.

Marshal Korsakov: A 70-year old, high-ranking commander in the Romanow Imperial Army of Sibirskyan descent.

Marshal Tokugawa: A high-ranking commander in the Romanow Imperial Army of Sapporan descent.

Marshal Nusayr: A high-ranking commander in the Romanow Imperial Army of Maghrebi descent.

Vice Marshal Alexei Suvorov: A young, high-ranking commander in the Romanow Imperial Army; of Sibirskyan descent and friend of Jaroslaw Tusk.

Katja Tymoshenko: Commander of the elite, silver-eyed and duratium-armored Silver Guard, the bodyguards of the Romanow Imperial Family. She was once known as Daksha Padmasree (of Bengali descent) and is a former subordinate of Kasia Romanowa.

James Asher Havel: Vice Commander of the elite, silver-eyed and duratium-armored Silver Guard, the bodyguards of the Romanow Imperial Family; son of a Bretonese sailor and a Comnenian prostitute.

Aminata Zalika: famous silver-eyed squad commander and Romanow loyalist.

Lewis de la Asturias: member of the Silver Guard and husband of Katja Tymoshenko; of Asturian descent and a former subordinate.

Captain Besiktas: A silver-eyed assassin stationed to the Romanow Imperial Embassy in Rabona; of unknown descent.

Lieutenant Mario Fiorentina: A silver-eyed assassin stationed to the Romanow Imperial Embassy in Rabona; of Rivolian descent.

Lieutenant Giovanni Fiorentina: A silver-eyed assassin stationed to the Romanow Imperial Embassy in Rabona; of Rivolian descent.

Wenceslaus: One of six elite silver-eyed warriors that is especially influential in the Romanow Empire's politics and a prospective husband to the Cesarzowa; of Comnenian descent.

Sergei Djugashvili: One of six elite silver-eyed warriors that is especially influential in the Romanow Empire's politics and a prospective husband to the Cesarzowa; of Sibirskyan descent.

Indira Raheja: One of six elite silver-eyed warriors that is especially influential in the Romanow Empire's politics; of Bengali descent.

Minhae-Choung Park: One of six elite silver-eyed warriors that is especially influential in the Romanow Empire's politics; of Busani descent.

Alevtina Kozlova: Silver-eyed advisor to the elite silver-eyed warrior Wenceslaus; of Comnenian descent.

Nikolai Aleksy Tesla: Head of Imperial Scientific Society; third son of Hrabia (Count) Aleksy Tesla; of Comnenian descent.

Grand Alliance

Federation of authoritarian and totalitarian states

De facto Sovereign: Stahl Fang, Chieftain of the Dragonkin

Ruling Houses: most prominent are the Fausts (Allemanian Empire), the Funihashis (Osakan Empire), and the Zhou (Szechwan Empire). Many lesser ruling houses exist.

Currency: Allianzmark

Main languages: Allemanian/Draconic, Szechwanese, Osakan, and Maghrebi

A superpower alliance united by the fearsome strength of the Askaram (Dragonkin) tribe, its states are known for their totalitarian ways, fielding massive armies, and also reactionary politics.

Major Rivals: Romanow Empire, Batticaloan Commonwealth

Flag: Red background with crossed white swords

Throne Name: The Draconic Throne (only used for head of Askaram tribe

Capital: Aachen

People and Dragonkin of the Grand Alliance:

Iron Claws: Vice Chieftain of the Askaram (Dragonkin) and the sire of Rima Romanowa's adopted Dragonkin-Duchess, Sturm and Drang.

Hideki Norihiro-Funihashi: General in the Grand Alliance Army and uncle of Osakan Emperor Junichiro Funihashi.

Osakan Emperor Junichiro Funihashi: newly-crowned emperor of the Osakan Empire and nephew of Norihiro Funihashi.

Szechwan Emperor Zhou Ling: young emperor of the Szechwan Empire and 2nd cousin of Junichiro Funihashi.

Duke Rundstedt: Lord Ambassador to the Dominion of Toulouse; elderly and of Allemanian descent.

Rubel Louvre: Chief Agent of the Grand Alliance in Rabona and deputy of Lord Ambassador Rundstedt; former Organization man and of Asturian descent.

Great Powers

Kingdom of Breton

Constitutional monarchy and representative parliamentary democracy

Sovereign: King Richard IV ("Lion of the Sea")

Ruling House: Beaufort

Currency: Sterling

Main language: Bretonese

Known for naval power, advanced technology, trading empire, property rights and parliamentary politics.

Major Rivals: Romanow Empire, Republic of Haaraleen, Batticaloan Commonwealth

Flag: Two black lions back-to-back upon white background

Throne name: The Lion Throne

Capital: Wessex

Republic of Haaraleen

Constitutional representative parliamentary democracy

Rulers: President (ceremonial) and Chancellor (head of government)

Ruling House: Not applicable

Currency: Thaler

Main language: Haaraleenese

Known for creating first corporations, central bank, stock market, as well as their naval might, worldwide commercial empire, advanced technology and mercenary armies.

Major Rivals: Kingdom of Breton, Batticaloan Commonwealth

Orange X on an white background

Residence of Chancellor: The Commerce House

Capital: Nijmegen

Lesser Powers

Batticaloan Commonwealth

Federation of eleven principalities near the Bengal

Rulers: Rotating Presidency amongst 11 Princes (1-year term of leadership)

Ruling House: 11 ruling houses

Currency: Rupee

Main language: Keralan

Known for rapid technological modernization, highly trained army, worldwide trading links, export of professional mercenaries and source of nearly half the world's rare gems.

Flag: white elephant on a green background

Residence of leader: one of 11 royal palaces

Capital: Batticaloa

Dominion of Toulouse

Constitutional Oligarchy

Rulers: Lord Mayor Zaehringen and Counseil de Seigneurs (Council of Lords)

Ruling House: None.

Currency: Franc

Main language: Toulousaine

Known for religious strife, rapid development, and being source of nearly half the world's rare gems.

Flag: Four-pointed white star upon blue background

Leader's residence: Lord Mayor's Residence

Capital: Rabona

People of the Dominion of Toulouse:

Government officials

Lord Mayor Zaehringen: 1st Lord Mayor of Rabona and a prominent businessman. He was instrumental in overthrowing the theocratic rule of Rabona Orthodox Church and installed the oligarchic Conseil de Seigneurs (Council of Lords) as ruling authority in Rabona.

Raul Tierra: Human husband of former No. 16 claymore Nadia and one of the original investors in "Phantom" Miria's diamond mine company. He was made Marquis de Pieta and holds a position in the Conseil de Seigneurs.

Ruud van Willems: Prominent merchant and only un-ennobled member of the Conseil de Seigneurs.

Baron von Staufen: eldest member of Conseil de Seigneurs.

Cid Malaga: Comte de Malaga (Count of Malaga) and married to Comtesse "Phantom" Miria Victoire de Beauharnais Malaga; former captain in Rabona's defunct Holy Guards.

Members of the Dominion's armed forces

"Phantom" Miria Victoire de Beauharnais Malaga: Holds positions of Comtesse de Malaga (Countess of Malaga) and Lieutenant General of the Dominion Army. Wife of Comte Cid Malaga and former No. 6 of the Organization and mother (due to unique reanimation) of silver-eyed Dame (Lady) Natalie Miria Victoire de Beauharnais Malaga. Miria is of unknown local descent.

Francois "Galk" Galacon: Former Captain of the Guard in the defunct Holy Guards and currently Major General of the Dominion Army. Galk is in a relationship with the claymore Clarice Habsburg and is of Rabonese descent.

Patrice Soult: Colonel in the Dominion Army and of Rabonese descent.

Jean Paul Murat: Major in the Dominion Army and of Rabonese descent.

Renee Rochambeau: former No. 6 and "Eye" of the Organization and 1st cousin of "Phantom" Miria. Renee is a Colonel in the Dominion Army and one of the original investors in Comtesse Miria's diamond mining company.

Helen Habsburg: Former No. 22 of the Organization and one of the original investors in Comtesse Miria's diamond mining company.

Clarice Habsburg: Former No. 47 of the Organization and adoptive mother of Miata. Clarice is in a relationship with Francois "Galk" Galacon.

Miata Habsburg: Former No. 4 of the Organization and adopted daughter of Clarice Habsburg.

Raki de Lautrec: Underwent special surgery making him silver-eyed after Organization's fall. Husband of Claire de Lautrec and father of their twins, Victor and Teresa.

Anastasia: Former No. 7 of the Organization and Colonel in the Dominion Army.

Yuma: Former No. 40 of the Organization and Brigadier General in the Dominion Army.

Tabitha: Former No. 31 of the Organization and Captain of the 10-warrior strong Elite Guard. Rumored to be in a relationship with fellow claymore Matilda.

Camilla: Former Organization trainee and cousin of fellow claymore Virginia; Lieutenant in the Dominion Army.

Virginia: Former Organization warrior and cousin of fellow claymore Camilla; Major in the Dominion Army.

Valencia: A former Organization warrior infamous amongst her peers for her former days earning a living as a prostitute. She is engaged to Major Jean Paul Murat.

Nadia Tierra: Former No. 16 of the Organization and wife of Marquis Raul Tierra; one of the original investors in "Phantom" Miria's diamond mining company.

Julie: Former No. 45 of the Organization and is married to a baker, Thierry. Julie is a member of the Elite Guard and stepmother of Thierry's son, Henry.

Alexandra: Former No. 12 of the Organization and Major in the Dominion Army.

Cantarella: Former Organization warrior and Major in the Dominion Army. Cantarella is one of Helen Habsburg's silver-eyed subordinates.

Rosette:

Marianne: Former Organization warrior and Captain in the Dominion Army. Marianne is one of Helen Habsburg's silver-eyed subordinates.

Selene: Former Organization warrior and Lieutenant in the Dominion Army. Selene is one of Anastasia's silver-eyed subordinates.

Nike: Former Organization warrior and Captain in the Dominion Army. Nike is one of Anastasia's silver-eyed subordinates.

Richetta: Former Organization warrior and Lieutenant in the Dominion Army. Richetta is one of Helen Habsburg's silver-eyed subordinates.

Felicity: Former Organization warrior and Lieutenant in the Dominion Army. Felicity is well known for her philandering habits, hence her nickname, Felicity "the Flirt".

Simone: Former Organization warrior and Lieutenant in the Dominion Army.

Matilda: Former Organization warrior and Captain in the Dominion Army. Matilda was a former member of the Elite Guard and rumored to be in a relationship with its commander, Captain Tabitha.

Madeleine: Former Organization warrior and Captain in the Dominion Army. Madeleine is infamous for nearly starting a knife fight with fellow warrior Nadia Tierra by flirting with Nadia's husband, Raul.

Olympia: Former Organization warrior and Captain in the Dominion Army.

Celestyna: Former Organization warrior and Captain in the Dominion Army.

Delphine: Former Organization warrior and Lieutenant in the Dominion Army. Delphine is famous for her self-restraint and is a teetotaler.

Deceased claymores at the beginning of "The Silver-eyed Empress" who starred in events of "Claymore: New Era"

Marie: Former Organization trainee; died at the battle of Kerouac Gorge.

Katrin: Former Organization warrior; died at the battle of Kerouac Gorge.

Sabine: Former Organization warrior; died during Rabona's surprise assaults on spread-out army of King Charles of Lautrec.

Ursula: Former Organization warrior; died during Rabona's surprise assaults on spread-out army of King Charles of Lautrec.

Alessandra: Former Organization warrior; died at the battle of Kerouac Gorge.

Josephine: Former Organization scout; died during ambush by vanguard of King Charles' army.

Kingdom of Lautrec

Absolute Monarchy

Rulers: King Philippe & Queen Violetta

Ruling House: Angevin

Currency: Beras

Main language: Toulousaine

Homeland of Triarch religion and historically is a bastion against the influence of the Rabona Orthodox Church

Flag: Golden griffin on red background

Ruler's residence: Royal Palace of Gonal

Capital: Gonal

People of the Kingdom of Lautrec:

King Philippe Angevin: Son of the late founder of the Kingdom of Lautrec and de jure leader of the Kingdom of Lautrec.

Queen Violetta Angevin: Ambitious wife of King Philippe.

Lieutenant General Sibelius: Commander of the Kingdom of Lautrec's armed forces.

Marcella van Dam: Twin silver-eyed sister of Miata Habsburg and Raphaela's replacement as the Organization's assassin. After the fall of the Organization, Marcella and Organization agent Monsieur Rado captured former No. 3 Audrey and No. 10, Raftela, inadvertently bringing the knowledge of partial awakening to the mainland and saving the life of Kasia Romanowa in the process.

Other Organizations

Rabona Orthodox Church

Founded 650 years before the overthrow of the Organization by priests who had claimed to have seen the angels Teresa and Claire ascend to heaven where the altar. Once ruled the entire Ile de Toulouse (Isle of Toulouse) until Pierre III's inquisition against Triarchs caused an island-wide revolt and the church's military control shrank back to Rabona's walls. Theocratic rule of Rabona continued despite the heresies spread by the Triarchs that Teresa and Claire were in fact the Goddesses of Love & Compassion and sisters of the Great Father. Rule of Rabona ended after a coup condoned by Major General "Phantom" Miria ended with the Lord Mayor Zaehringen and the oligarchic Conseil de Seigneurs (Council of Lords) taking power.

Prominent former Bishops:

Pierre III-unleashed the 1st Inquisition upon the heretical Triarchs and was assassinated shortly after the war spiraled out of control.

Vincent IV-He was leader of the Rabona Orthodox Church after the downfall of the Organization. Theocratic rule of Rabona was overthrown during his reign, leading to Father Mazarin's slaying of the Bishop and the Third Inquisition.

1st Archbishop:

Galatea I-Led the church successfully through the backlash against its former members' inquisition and insurrection against the state. Self-declared Archbishop of the Ile de Toulouse (disputed by Triarchs).