The Sumarrian Empire
The Sumarrian Empire is based on the volcanic Darkstone Islands. In recent years they have also began occupying territory in the Shattered Sea. They are a technologically and magically advanced society focused on three words, Duty, Honor, Dragons. They are experiencing incredible prosperity and success in their war of expansion with the various islands of the Shattered Sea.
Structure
The Dragon Emperor has absolute power over all of his subjects. Most of islands of the inner empire, the Blackstone Islands, are ruled by a Governor. Further out multiple islands may be under the same governor. The governors can choose their lieutenant governor pending the approval of the emperor. All governors and lieutenant governors serve at the emperors pleasure and may be stripped of rank and title at any moment. However, whenever a governor is appointed he swears to serve the emperor honorably and to the best of his ability and in exchange the emperor swears not to punish him for delivering bad news that is no fault of his own. They make these and similar vows during the appointing ceremony.
History
The great sun prophet Sumarr together with the minotaur clans of the Darkstone Islands formed into The Sumarrian Empire. Before Sumarr the minotaurs were predominantly a seafaring culture, the interiors of their islands being full of dragons. When Sumarr came and befriended the dragons it was discovered that not only was the volcanic soil excellent for farming, the mountains were rich in minerals. Coal, iron, and other metals were abundant and untouched. There were metals never seen before, and those that were impossible to work with before Sumarr's smiths brought dragonfire. This lead to the rise of Sumarrian Steel. A rust resistant, ultra strong, steel alloy. Armed with these new materials the empire went through a rapid industrialization period. Their industrial revolution never really stopped, to this day they are on the cutting edge of technology and war machines.
Demography and Population
The population of The Sumarrian Empire is mostly of combination of minotaurs and humans. This is no longer as true as it used to be. While most of the Darkstone Islands are inhabited by minotaurs and humans, the empire has been expanding into the islands of the Shattered Sea. The majority of people there are halflings, gnomes, and humans.
Technological Level
The technology of The Sumarrian Empire is more advanced than any other. The Blackstone Islands have large deposits of coal, iron, chromium, titanium, and tungsten. This allows them to make steel of incredible strength and durability. Even given the materials most societies couldn't make sumarrian steel, only dragonfire is hot enough to fuse the metals correctly. Using variants of sumarrian steel they are the first and only navy equipped with metal hulls. They haven't invented the steam engine but only because their sailing ships are so fast, do in part to the priests of Hetziah. While the Dwarves take great pride in their work and produce tools of weapons of excellent quality and great beauty, in terms of function there is no beating sumarrian steel without the use of mithril. The Sumarrians have perfected metalwork for function.
Education
The empire believes that the devine right to rule is limited to the royal family, outside of that they believe strongly in meritocracy. To that end all children in the inner empire are required to be educated. All children are sent to the imperial academy until they are 15. Learning history, religion, language, and mathematics. After this they are free to either go on to military school, trade school, start an apprenticeship, join the military, or enter the workforce. Military school is for training officers for the navy, army, or dragonriders.
Mythology & Lore
In an ancient time the great Sumarr was the prophet of Zolmov, some say he was a demigod others say he was simply blessed. He traveled across the world gathering followers. He taught that dragons were great creatures, worthy of our respect and love. He spoke of the fiery soul in each of us and how eventually it will be snuffed out. He rode his great wyrm across the sky, inspiring hundreds. Eventually he took his followers west to follow the sun and find the last place you can see it from land. On his quest he and his followers settled on the Darkstone Islands. They found a massive amounts of dragons inhabiting the volcanoes and the surrounding areas. They also found the minotaur clans, fragmented and at war with each other. They were raiders and pirates at war with each other and the rest of the world. Sumarr befriended and tamed the dragons and together they began conquering the minotaurs, defeating and absorbing the largest of the clans. The rest were drawn to the strength of this way of life. They united into a single state and a single faith. Thus formed the sumarrian trifecta, the twin minotaur gods Hazoroh and Hetziah combined with Sumarr's patron Zolmov.
Duty, Honor, Dragons
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Demonym
Sumarrian
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Official State Religion
Subsidiary Organizations
Location
Related Ranks & Titles
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Related Ethnicities
