Tok Empire

"You call us tyrants. You call us evil, but our actions are for the safety and prosperity of our kin. We do this not out of hate, but out of our love for our people. We must unite under the banner of Hextor and smite all those who oppose us. Only then we will truly have peace on Oryth..."

— Adinimus S'bna, High King of Tok

Structure

The Tok Empire is an absolute monarchy ruled by Adinimus S'bna the High King of Tok who resides in Tok Proper. The Nation of Tok is divide into separate regions ruled by Kings and Queens of their respective areas. They all answer to the High King but are allowed to rule their regions as they see fit so long as it doesn't oppose the views of the High King. Under those monarchs, cities and towns are governed by Mayors that receive their orders from the Kings of the regions and are expected to take care of the monetary exchange and charters of their settlements.

Culture

The culture of Tok is one of reverence and highly tied to its religion. Every year during the Blooding, every citizen in a Tok satrapy must lacerate themselves in the name of their god, Hextor. All men, women, and children are bound by this ritual and any that do not participate are branded as heretics and burned at the stake. Lords and Knights of Tok have express permission to take who they wish for companionship regardless of their marital status so long as they are of age. It is considered a great honor to be bedded by one of this status and a blessing from Hextor's will to be selected in this way. Many outsiders view the Tok Empire as cruel and sadistic, but most of the citizens have been conditioned to believe this is the way of things and that the empire is what keeps them safe and protected. Hextor's Will be Served...

Art By: Jeffrey Archer

Political Agenda

Through control, Tok is able to protect their citizens. Through obedience, they can make sure no one is left behind. Because of their taxation of those in power, they ensure that everyone has food and shelter in the largest cities of the nation. Through control of magic, they ensure that no one will be caught in the collateral damage of those untrained in the arcane arts. Through control of religion, they ensure that beliefs will not make war.

Assets

Tok has many unique assets at its disposal, the greatest of which is the infamous Pacification Bracer which reacts to the spellcasting ability of those in possession by delivering a shock of arcane energy in response. Magic items are only permitted to be used by the Spellbreakers of Tok. They have excelled in devices that nullify or disperse magical energies and most large cities are equipped with gems that allow the guards to detect magical auras.

History

The Tok Empire was forming known simply as the Nation of Tok, which some still refer to it as, on the 8th of Heirobis in the 333^th Year of Ascension just a month after the tyrannical God of Oppression, Hextor was slain by The Ascended. A young Paladin of Heironeous by the name of D'maryp Evna united the tribes of the continent under one banner in harmonious unity and region as their king for 100 years until he died of old age, passing his title onto his son, Aluxion. The nation reigned over the continent for many years bringing prosperity and peace through the land well past the disappearance of The Ascended and far after the annihilation of the Gods.

On the 13^th Day of Hexbis in the 100^th Year of the Godless, several generations after its founding, King Emoenitus began to hear whispers from a celestial being from beyond the grave. With worship and prayer, it began to gain power. The Cult of the Ivalon began to spread which eventually lead to the being gaining enough power to become a fully manifested deity that soon revealed itself to be the reborn Hextor. Since then, the Nation of Tok has shifted gears and become the Tok Empire where the iron fist of the nation would rule for generations to come.

Art By: Anakin Lee

Geography & Population

The Nation of Tok makes up 800 million people throughout the continent. 80% of the population is governed by the Tok Empire and the remaining 20% make up various tribes, villages, and thorps that the Empire has deemed inconsequential in their efforts. They prefer to stay within high-populated areas filled primarily with people of strong influence and physical prowess. Every elf, gnome, and tiefling is affixed with a Pacification Bracer due to innate casting abilities among a majority of their races. As such this populace is met with fear and prejudice often calling them derogatory names like knifers, glimmies, and hellspawn.

Territories

Tok is broken up into several territories called Provinces all ruled by a separate king. Those territories are the northern B'adtzhia ruled over by King Archibault, the western Rudaria ruled by Queen Junast, the eastern Vlitzm'rch ruled by Queen Ulzia, the southern Zerimus ruled by King Quarius, and the Origarht Archipelago ruled by Monarch Everys.

Military

The primary military of the Tok Empire is a force to be reckoned with. Every member of the Tok Military must undergo rigorous training and trials. Some never live to become full-fledged soldiers with their belief that only if they can survive the worst of hardships are they fit enough to serve Hextor worthily. The strongest of soldiers are those who pass the Spellbreaker Trials and ascend to be legal arcane masters in the Tok Empire. The best of the Spellbreakers live to become Harbingers and can enforce Hextor's will at their leisure, saying to be the closest to His majesty. They are granted immunity to the Laws of Tok and a free to pass judgment as they see fit.

"Control ensures peace..."

Art By: Wizards of the Coast

Founding Date

13^th Day of Hexbis in the
100^th Year of the Godless

Type

Geopolitical, Empire

Capital

Tok Proper

Alternative Names

Nation of Tok, Tok Officials, Tyrants of Tok

Training Level

Trained

Veterancy Level

Decorated/Honored

Demonym

Tokian

Leader

Adinimus S'bna

Leader Title

High King of Tok

Head of Government

Adinimus S'bna

Government System

Monarchy, Absolute

Power Structure

Feudal state

Economic System

Traditional

Currency

Tokian Coin
(Platinum, Gold, Silver, Copper)

Major Exports

Ale, Mead, Obsidian

Major Imports

Gold, Mithral, Iron, Wine

Legislative Body

Test

Judicial Body

Test

Official State Religion

Hextorian

Deities

• Hextor

Location

Tok Proper

Official Languages

• Tof'kran

Related Traditions

• Discovery

Related Ranks & Titles

• High King of Tok

Related Professions

• Crier

Neighboring Nations

• Hroff Alliance
• Scholars of Oryth

Notable Members

• Adinimus S'bna
• D'maryp Evna

Related Ethnicities

• Tokian

Related Historical Events

• 333
  Founding of the Nation of Tok

War of Attrition

Hroff Alliance

-30

Tok Empire

-50

Due to differences in religion, expression, and free-will, the Hroff Alliance and the Tok Empire have not seen eye-to-eye for many millennia. Though there is currently a loose treaty to protect the nations from collateral damage and encourage limited trade between the continents, scheduled wars and battles over dominion are still being waged.

Rebellious

MANTICORE

-100

Tok Empire

0

Though the Tok Empire is currently unaware of MANTICORE as a whole, that doesn't stop MANTICORE from hating the Empire wholeheartedly. MANTICORE will stop at nothing to topple the Empire's tyrannical grip on the continent. They are willing to fight tooth and nail for as long as it takes, no matter the price.

Art By: Zadoc Dederick (1868)

Technological Level

Due to their prohibition of the vast majority of the population being able to use the arcane arts, the people of Tok have developed many wonders in recent years. Mechanical golems, steam-powered vehicles, gunpowder propelling projectiles known as firearms, even airships that fly with no use of magic, as well as many other mechanical wonders. The profession of Artificer has grown more and more prominent in the area, though Tok is suspicious that some of those practicing these arts are partaking in arcane rituals to give power to these machines. Some believe that the prominence of science is an attempt to deviate from the will of Hextor and suspect that it won't be long before it is regulated and controlled as much as the arcane.

Foreign Relations

The foreign relations between Tok and the other continents are tense one at the best of times. Though recently there has been a treaty between Hroff and Tok to at least allow trade between the nations, there are still small skirmishes battled in pre-determined locations. The agreement is one balancing on thin-ice and all it would take is someone to betray the trust of the treaty for it to burst into all-out war once more.

Agriculture & Industry

The agriculture in Tok is highly honed with the recent development of steam-powered devices. There are clockwork machines that seed an entire field in mere moments available to the richest of farmers. The industrious factories filled with artificers developing new inventions like the recent blunderbusses and flintlocks are almost ready for mass-production and require only a few more trial runs before available to be widely distributed to a majority of the Tok army. There are still a few kinks to work out, but if the progress made recently continuous on pace, that day will come into fruition in just a matter of decades.

Trade & Transport

Art By: FantasyArt0102

The majority of trade between the nations is the export of ale, mead, and the obsidian that is most common in the nation of Tok. Internally, weapons and armor are highly produced in nearly every town with most cities having 3-5 blacksmiths to keep up with the demand. Transport is mostly by horse and ship, but some independent artificers have constructed steam-powered golems that are attached to carts to allow for faster travel internally in the busiest of cities.

Education

The education in Tok is rooted wildly in its religion, often favoring faith and legend over science and logic. Though recently with the boom of technology, more independent schools have been built that teach only facts and reason. As such, the faith of Hextor in youth has begun to dwindle which has been the topic of many council meetings throughout Tok. It is only a matter of time before these schools are forced to adhere to an itinerary that aligns with the Hextorian faith.

Infrastructure

The network of cities, roads, and other settlements are usually set up to be the fastest possible with the environment. Roads and paths will often go with the environment adhering to the mountains and hills. The flatter parts of Tok have adapted a more grid-like structure, allowing for quicker, more centralized setups. These are usually centered around water sources and places of worship such as temples and shrines.