Darethian Empire
The walls of the keep were high and thick, made of large blocks of stone, the bottom of which was already overgrown with vines and thick ivy. And yet, it stood dominating over the bustling city in the barren waste like an eagle over its nest. Silken banners waved in the subtle wind, displaying the silver crown of the Darethian Empire.
Headed by King Robert Dareth, the Darethian Empire is the expansive territory at the heart of the barren Eternal Plains. A realm born out of conquest and consolidation, it now looks beyond its borders to earn its rightful place within the world. Barely six generations old, the Darethian Empire has an extensive history—most of which is discarded by the elder races, most of whose citizenry was alive when the Darethian Empire made its first, stumbling steps. Nevertheless, it has solidified itself as a military force to be reckoned with.
Structure
The Darethian Empire is headed by a king of the Dareth dynasty who reigns as an absolute monarch: their word is law and right, and he has very few restrictions. Yet, even then the king is advised by his Council: comprised of the Lord Treasurer, the Lord of Whispers, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Commander, and the Lord Magister - the latter from the Magisterium, the organisation of wizards and mages that controls the use of magic within the Empire.
To the Lord Commander answer the Watchers; town guard and security forces who also partly serve as foot soldiers in its armies. Officers and more specialised officials for the army and the Imperial bureaucracy are provided by the nobility: there are very few commoners that make their way up the imperial ladder, despite the claims to value talent over blood.
History
Originally a minor kingdom born from the remnants of the magocracies of the Age of Arcanum, the Darethian Empire has had as many names as kings. Yet, one has stuck. Conquering its neighbours, it slowly crossed the Eternal Plains to eventually command the entire land strait between the Spine of the World and the Western Ridge.
Now headed by King Rober Dareth, the Empire is looking beyond its borders for further expansion and security: the king is a paranoid man, who sees enemies in every shadow. And so he does on the geopolitical stage. Primarily, he seeks to maintain relations with the Golden Concord of the Aurix Coast, on whom the Empire has come to rely for food shipments from their fertile lands; yet instability in the Concord might threaten these relations and force the king's hand.
Territories
The Darethian Empire encompasses most of the territory between the Western Ridge and the Spine of the World, with new settlements nearby the guard cities of Tor Tirista, such as Ostford on the banks of the River Norië. The empire is centred around the city of Stredisko, which serves as its capital, with the nearby city of Tribrath serving as a trade centre on the Iron Road leading to the Aurix Coast and the Golden Concordat. The Empire is guarded by the Kaerian Gate, which guards the pass of the same name, which is the only passable entrance into the Empire between the Western Ridge and Mor's Spur. To the north, the Empire to the Spine of the World, where it has its only harbour in the frozen wastes of the northern fjords.
Through this separation of the Empire, a clear centre of population emerged on the barren Eternal Plains, which the Empire mines gladly for the resources of the earth. These are traded with the dwarves of the Spine of the World, who provide quick passage to the Empire's heartland through their halls at Gar-Kadrin and Nalgrim.
Military
The armed forces of the Darethian Empire consist of two distinct parts: the Watchers, and the Royal Wardens. The Watchers are usually local militia and used as town guards and law enforcement; drafted from the areas around the Empire's cities to garrison them and the surrounding area: mostly the roads.
Primarily trained in the capital of Stredisko, the Watchers are equipped with bronze mail and long black shields, emblazoned with the silver crown that serves as the Empire's symbol. Wielding spears and short-swords, they operate as local law enforcement and answer to the Guardsmaster, who, in turn, answers to the Lawmaster of each city, town, or territory. The Lawmasters, in turn, answer to the High Keeper of each province, who answers to the Lord Commander of the Empire. The Watchers' uniform is dark maroon robes with a bronze breastplate and helm.
In contrast to the Watchers, the Royal Wardens are the full armed forces of the Empire, the traditional soldiery. They are trained in the southern city of Lesa and serve to guard the borders and clear threats the Watchers are incapable of solving. Organised into regional Legions, each with a Prefect at the head, who answers to provincial commanders, who answer to the Lord Commander and the king. Subdivided into Regiments, each served its own purpose and had its own equipment.
Founding Date
722 PC
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Alternative Names
The Empire
Demonym
Darethian
Leader
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Market economy
Currency
The Darethian Empire uses a system of five coins, referred to in common parlance as 'electrum', 'platinum', 'gold', 'silver', and 'copper', for the metals from which they are made. Officially, however, they hold the following names and insignia, shown in the table below.
| Metal | Worth (GP) | Colloquial Name | Official Name |
| Platinum | 10 | Platinum Piece | Planas |
| Gold | 1 | Gold Piece | Aureas |
| Electrum | 0.5 | Electrum Piece | Enas |
| Silver | 0.1 | Silver Piece | Argentas |
| Copper | 0.01 | Copper Piece | As |
For use in trade and large exchanges, coins are often bartered on long strings, which lead to the square holes common in Darethian coinage. More recently, bars of pure gold, platinum, electrum, etc are common for similar large-scale transactions.
Major Exports
The Empire primarily exported wheat, salt, metalwork, and raw material that has been mined from the Spine of the World. The Empire features very little in the way of the shipbuilding industry as it is nearly landlocked, with only the northern shore of the Empire being accessible by sea through the frigid fjords.
Major Imports
Due to its nearly-landlocked nature, the Darethian Empire imports most of its trade goods from its southern neighbour, the Golden Concordat, which has made it obscenely rich and influential within Darethian society.
Legislative Body
The Darethian Empire is ruled by the King, who is advised by his Council. The King makes laws and is advised in this by the Council. The population mostly expresses its will through the consortium of merchants and trading guilds that makes up the upper middle class and lower nobility, who also hold great sway across the political establishment through the appointment of officials by the Council and the King.
Subsidiary Organizations
Related Ranks & Titles
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
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