The Calradian Empire
The Calradian Empire is/was the primary ruling government for the vast majority of recorded history since the fall of the Daemons, when Aloth was defeated by the father of the Saint of Order, Godric. At one time it spanned the whole continent, however in the current time it is wracked by civil war, and large portions of the continent have been conquered by foreign invaders.
The Calradian Empire is divided, and undoubtedly in decline. Even before the suspicious Death of the Emperor Aristarcas, the once united country is now torn by political rivalries in three De Facto nations (the Western, Northern, and Southern empires). Today the nations continue sporadic warfare, but a collective 'imperial' identity still endures.
Despite this, the Imperial remnants are still (if combined into one) the largest political, economic, and military force on the continent. Should it ever be re-united, many hope that a new golden age could begin.
Structure
The Calradian Empire was/is a hereditary imperial monarchy, in which the god-kings descended from the holy human champion of Godric, Sigvard , ruled from the holy city of Nazzareth. However, not all matters of governance for a whole continent could be controlled by a single person, and so The Imperial Calradic Senate was formed of governors and representatives from across the continent to decide on how to carry out the decrees of the emperor in practice.
Culture
The Calradian Empire was/is a very patriotic nation, and it still is the believe by most citizens that the nation is the bulwark against dark entities and barbarians who seek to destroy them. As such, the nation is quite religious, as the nation and their religion are seen as different aspects of the same thing.
Many Imperial citizens view Vaegirs, Swadians, Battanians, and even some of the Aserai as barbarians, whose lesser ways and inferior morality put their own orderly peace at risk. This belief is further reinforced by the on-and-off wars that are fought with these people with relative frequency.
The benefits of these beliefs though is that Imperial citizens are generally very protective and caring for their neighbors and perceived other Imperials. Crime rates are actually quite low in the empire, as citizens generally see each other as kin (with the exception of the dwarves, but even they hold a significant amount of empathy for their fellow Imperials). Imperials will often open up their homes and their goods to travelers or pilgrims in needs, and will often defend their towns and cities fiercely.
Surprisingly to many, even The War of the Three Emperors has failed to dim the perceived fellowship of many Imperial citizens. Soldiers in particular though have begun to lose faith in this concept, the longer the ware continues.
Citizenship
The concept of an "Imperial Citizen, exists within this country's Zeitgeist, and plays a major role in the way that Imperials interact with both each other, and other cultures. Imperial citizens are individuals born within the Empire from other Imperial citizens. Citizens' status is recorded by their local government, and they are required to pay yearly taxes to their local administrative center (village, town, city, etc). In exchange, citizens are provided with security from the local military forces, and are entitled to certain rights as citizens. Citizen's rights include: Legal rights (such as the right to a hearing where they are given time to speak in their own defense if they are accused of committing a crime (heresy excluded)), property rights ( such as the right to have their property protected from theft and to have stolen property returned to them), representative rights (such as the right to elect a "people's tribune" to sit at the senate and represent their locality), and security rights (such as the right to not be subject to slavery). In addition, many privileges and benefits handed out by individual governments are restricted to "citizens only". Despite the fact that their rights are relatively simple and small-scale, the concept of citizenship and the rights that accompany it is a source of pride for Imperial citizens across the Empire. Citizenship can only be attained by birth, or by a written decree by an appointed Imperial official in charge of citizenship. Many have earned citizenship through acts of service to the Empire, even including fighting in the legions.Public Agenda
The empire of the past sought to keep the continent united and strong, so that it could repulse any attempt made by outside forces, be they daemonic or barbarian. However, following the dissolution of the empire into de facto warring factions, the different imperial factions all have a variety of the same goal: to re-unite the empire in their own image.
Assets
The Calradian Empire was the centralized government of an entire continent for the better part of eight centuries, and as such was an extremely wealthy and powerful state. The Empire once commanded legions of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, it once maintained castles and fortifications across the vast frontiers of the continent all year round, and had the economic base to support a massive war-machine, as well as even a rudimentary welfare state.
However, over time the efficiency of the empire began to be reduced by corruption, and since the beginning of The War of the Three Emperors, the resources of the once vast and mighty empire have been fought over by rival political factions, and are a shadow of what they once were.
Imperial authorities still have access to massive stores of war equipment and technology from the Imperial golden age, including Cannons and some rudimentary firearms (in extremely limited numbers).
Demography and Population
The empire itself is made up of all known civilized races, and constitutes millions of people across the cities and countryside.
Much of the population of the empire is still rural, as massive amounts of farming is required to feed it's population. However, the urban centers of the old empire have been continuously growing as well. Approximately 30% of the populations of the empire live in major cities.
The population of the empire was continuously growing until The War of the Three Emperors, after which it has levelled-off. Unsurprisingly, most of the reduction in population has occured in the cities, as lower-class recruits are gathered from the major cities and urban centers to be sent of to war, as it is important that farmers keep farming to feed the nation.
Territories
All Imperial authorities consider the entirety of the continent of Calradia to be their rightful territory, and reference the Imperial golden age as the example of this right made manifest. In addition, since the state generally claims to be divinely ordained to rule, this would technically make all lands their rightful territory.
In practice though, many lands have been conquered by The Kingdom of the Swadians and the Tsardom of the Vaegirs. In addition, territories have broken off as "independant", such as The Battanian Confederacy and The Aserai Confederacy. It is generally the goal of all claimants to the Empire to reclaim these lands at some point.
Attempts have been made by Imperial authorities to colonize lands to the East of Lake Savengard, but these were abandoned after the beginning of The War of the Three Emperors. In addition, The Misty Isles have long been claimed as Imperial territory, but all colonization attempts have failed. Thus while it is De Jure a part of the Empire, it is De Facto a wildland with no clear owner.
Military
See Imperial Legions
Technological Level
Despite it's recent decline, the Empire is still the center of technological innovation and is more advanced than any other area of the continent. Technologies such as Alchmist's Fire, Sun-Steel, and most major Enchantment guilds exist predominantly within Imperial borders. In addition, most magical schools and magic users (excluding Illyria City) are to be found in the Empire.
Some technologies, such as Cannons have been lost, as either the knowledge to construct them or the resources to produce them are no longer available. However, innovation continues in many of the engineering guilds across the Empire, and new technologies are still being produced. These technologies often give the Imperial armies a distinct military edge, such as Alchemist Fire throwers, ultra-heavy crossbows and ballistae, as well as the largest and best protected siege engines. In addition, the average legion's magical corps of between 24-36 spellcasters can unleash devastating attacks on enemy formations, which can turn the tide of many battles against less magically inclined and integrated forces.
Religion
Since the formation of the Empire, it has been a religious state. Indeed the very founding of the state by the Saints and Sigvard makes the nation's existence itself a religious occurrence. As such, Imperial citizens are generally quite religious, and will make prayers an important an non-negotiable part of their days.
The Holy Church of the Saints of Order plays a significant role in the daily life of many citizens. However, due to the fragmented nature of the religion itself, it plays a relatively minor role in the running of the empire. High-profile priests will be consulted when developing policy relevant to the Saint that they worship, and priests will often be consulted when hunting heretics and other religious offenders, but the church does not take an active role in government itself due to it's neutral stance in the ongoing conflicts of the continent. Rather, it provides passive support to the Imperial authorities in most cases.
Foreign Relations
Foreign relations currently depend highly on the individual imperial faction that one is looking at, as all thje factions of The War of the Three Emperors have differing relations with foreign powers.
However, imperial authorities in general look down upon foreign nations, as they view them as barbaric foreign usurpers of rightful imperial territory. When factions do work in common with foreign powers, it is normally either a short-term agreement to complete a specific objective, or an economic agreement to give themselves an edge over the other Imperial factions.
Laws
Whereas some aspects of law have begun to differ amongst the warring factions in The War of the Three Emperors, most aspects of Imperial law remain consistent throughout the Imperial lands. Laws are generally enforced by either local administrators (mayors) local governors (Archons), or by assigned judges by the local governing body. In most cities, the Archons will only hold hearings on the most severe crimes, and leave all other cases to appointed judges. Since many general laws (theft, murder, etc) in the empire are left intentionally vague, to provide flexibility to local decision-makers in how to enforce them, the application of the law may differ from region to region. Regardless, the decisions of all leaders can be overturned by someone of higher station than themselves, with the Emperor being the final decider in the most complex or important of cases. Below is a non-exhaustive list of some crimes and their punishments:
Heresy
Heresy remains the highest of crimes, and is punishable by any means of public execution that the state prefers. In addition, hunters of the Order Malleus have been given by Imperial decree across all states and localities the right to execute suspected heretics who are actively attempting to commune or interact with the daemonic entities of The Shadowfell. Followers of Deities of the Feywilds are not technically considered heretics by Imperial authorities. Despite this, due to the general hatred of heretics many Imperial citizens are wary and fearful of Fey worshippers. As such, most Fey worshippers keep quiet about their religious leanings, and do their best to blend in to avoid unnecessary suspicion or harassment.Theft
All forms of theft are considered illegal, and punishments vary based on the amount stolen and who was stolen from. Stealing from the state is considered the most serious form of theft, and it's punishments are normally much higher. Corruption is actually considered a form of theft in Imperial law, and while corruption in the empire has increased over time, so too have the punishments for it in order to combat corruption's spread. Accusations of corruption are therefore extremely serious. All commerce related crimes are also generally thrown under the wider umbrella of "theft". For example, breaking a contract early is considered a form of theft against the other party of the contract, and trading in goods that haven't been properly taxed is considered a theft from the state.Murder
Murder in the Calradian Empire is considered "The Unjustified killing of another sentient, civilized being, by any means". The justification is thus the main argument point when trying to defend a murder, as it is considered a subjective point that is to the discretion of the official presiding over or hearing the case. If it is proven that an individual did kill someone, they are generally considered guilty until proven innocent.Adultery
Adultery is actually not considered a crime in the Empire. However, adultery is considered a religious crime, and can result in significant repercussions from the church and their followers. While you may not be found guilty of a crime, communities have frequently expelled people from their communities, or even chosen to boycott their businesses. As such, Adultery is considered more of a moral crime than an official one.Trade & Transport
Highways were constructed that ran all across the continent during the Imperial Golden Age, however their state today varies widely. Within the Empire though, the highways are kept in decent repair, and are the arteries by which people and goods flow from city to city. There is an Imperial highway connection to all Imperial cities. Highways are also frequently patrolled by local militias to keep them safe, but some more rural portions of highway can be dangerous as bandits and other gangs can outnumber lawful forces in the area.
This network of highways was originally designed to facilitate both travel AND trade within the empire, and despite the ongoing warfare between the Imperial factions, this is still the case. The factions of the former empire all allow trade to occur between them, despite the hostilities. This is due to the fact that the Empire, during the golden age, specialized some of it's regions to focus on specific types of production. Cutting of one of the factions from trading with the others could lead to economic collapse for them all. As such, there have been no official attempts to date by the warring factions within the empire to restrict trade. HOWEVER, there have been many cases of mercenary companies acting as "privateers" to raid the trade caravans originating from another faction in the border regions. As such, trade along the new borders within the Empire can be a dangerous endeavor, leading traders to either pay significant amounts to sail or travel around the borders, or to hire significant amounts of security to defend their goods in transit. Due to this insecurity, and increased costs of transport, goods in all corners of the Empire have gotten more expensive.
This tacit approval of inter-empire trade has allowed all of the warring factions to continue to defend themselves and fight against non-Imperial states with decent success, and so it is understood that this state of affairs will likely continue, as it is in the mutual interests of all the factions to keep their own economies running.
Education
Education is a luxury mostly attained by the wealthy within Imperial society. Educational institutions such as The Anabilia School of Performing Arts, or the major magic or engineering schools, all charge hefty sums of gold to attend, on top of the prohibitive living expenses in many places where these schools exist. representative of this fact, the literacy rate of Imperial citizens is only about 13% (by best estimates), and is mostly made up of administrators who have been taught to read and write for mundane bureaucratic tasks (i.e. banking, accounting, inventory management, record-keeping, scribing, etc).
Most people learn a trade when employed by a company or other business, or by learning a trade from their parents. Learning a trade independently usually means paying a master to take you on as their apprentice, which comes with many of the same money-related barriers as other formal education (i.e. smiths, stone-masons, etc).
Infrastructure
Imperial infrastructure varies significantly from one region to the next. For example, the plains surrounding Saneopa are some of the most barren in the world, and are almost entirely devoid of any kind of infrastructure. Even the city itself is almost entirely 1-2 story buildings, with water collected by hand and a short set of surrounding fortifications, but no actual contiguous wall.
On the other hand, cities such as Lageta have been built up with massive infrastructure projects to support the growth of the city. Engineers and even some enchanters have taken part in building massive 10-storey tall aqueducts to bring running water to much of the city, they've built the city up with stone and timber to the point where most buildings in the main city are 5-6-storey buildings. The city even has a main defensive wall, with subsequent small defensive walls, and outlying population centers even have their own fortresses and towering keeps to protect the local countryside.
Imperial engineers are world renowned, and it is without doubt that where the Empire has a vested interest in doing so, they are capable of constructing engineering wonders. An example of this is that almost all Imperial cities have working sewage systems, to help maintain the health of the populations in urban centers, and most major Imperial cities have tall walls and rings of outlying defenses.
The Empire once had a ring of castles and fortresses to defend the frontiers, but many of these have since fallen into disrepair since the re-organization of the Imperial Legions, as there were no longer border forces raised by the central Imperial government to man these forts. Many have now been taken over by bandit gangs and other ne'er-do-wells.
We Are The Light
1186 - Present (De Jure)
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Successor Organizations
Formation Type
Training Level
Semi-trained
Veterancy Level
Experienced
Demonym
Imperials
Leader Title
Government System
Monarchy, Theocratic
Power Structure
Feudal state
Economic System
Traditional
Currency
The empire has minted "Imperial Crowns" since anyone can remember. The coins are made of either copper, silver, gold, or platinum (with platinum pieces actually being gilded in an ultra-thin sheen of sun-steel, which is what makes them so much more valuable). Rather than being on purpose, these different levels of coins are actually representative of the economic strength of the empire at the time of their minting. Copper pieces are often minted in times of relative scarcity and conflict, while gold and platinum will be minted in times of peace and prosperity.
All coinage is minted in the Imperial mint in Nazzareth, however new mints have arisen since the beginning of The War of the Three Emperors. This has caused a certain level of inflation as each state looks to mint coinage of their own. However, all minted coinage still follows the standard format, making it almost impossible to tell which country the coins came from.
Imperial coinage is used throughout the continent, as is even considered preferable in dealings in The Kingdom of the Swadians, The Aserai Confederacy, and Tsardom of the Vaegirs, due to it's usefulness in trading with Imperial traders.
Major Exports
Despite their lacking in some areas, the Empire produces a truly staggering amount of products, some of which are exported from the country:
Horses
Imperial horses are both numerous and of high-quality, only to be rivalled in quality by Swadian war-horses. Horses and mules are essential for most countries, and so traders come from all across Calradia to purchase horses from renound breeders at cities such as Jalmarys, Saneopa, and Hubyar for desert horses.Livestock and Animal-Derived Products (Meat, Milk, Cheese, Leather, Wool, Textiles)
The Empire's vast fields have led to many cities that thrive off of the breeding of livestock. Both the animals and the products derived from their bodies are in good supply throughout the nation, but especially in The Eastern Calradian empire and in Lageta. Steaks from rare breeds of cattle bred specifically for consumption in and around Jalmarys are in high demand by many nobility across the continent.Salt
Salt is absolutely essential to preserving food, as well as being used as a seasoning by the upper-classes. Salt is consumed in preserving food in vast amounts in all of the major cities of the continent. In addition, many rural towns and villages rely on salted meats and other salted products to feed themselves through hard-times or rough winters. The largest salt-producing location in the known world is at Charas.Gold and Silver
Despite some outstanding exceptions (Rovalt, Ostican, and Marunath, the Imperial territories produce the largest amount of Silver and Gold of any other country on the continent, originating from mines in the many mountain ranges dotting the Imperial landscape. These generally means that the Imperials are able to relatively easily purchase with Silver and Gold the goods they need from other nations. The arrival of a large Imperial trading caravan in some parts of the world can actually lead to rapid local inflation, due to the sudden influx of hard currency.
Major Imports
Imperials have grown accustomed to having certain goods available to them, as their tastes grew during the golden age. However, with the loss of a significant amount of territory, traders now must cross national borders to attain goods from abroad to feed the tastes of the populations at home. Below are some key examples of goods that Imperial traders must acquire from abroad frequently, as domestic supply is too low:
Wine
While there is some domestic production (notably in Qasira, Razih, and Lageta), it is not enough to meet domestic demand, as a significant amount of former vineyards have been transitioned into cereal crop fields outside of a small number of cities. In addition, wine produced within the empire is mostly for mass consumption, and is not of particularly high-quality (most of the time). Specifically, wine from The Kingdom of the Swadians is always in high demand, as it is known to be of the highest quality. Swadian noble society demands large quantities of high-quality wine, and Imperial traders will pay highly for such luxury. Specifically Gallician wine (From Galend) is the most prized. It is not uncommon for Fathers to buy their children a bottle of Gallician wine when they are born, to be drunk when they move out of their parents' home.Clay/Pottery
The Clay quality of the Empire is generally not of enough quantity or quality for the production of pottery. As pottery is still the primary method of the storage and transport of many goods, this presents a serious problem. Without pottery, staple products like Milk, Cheese, Grains, and Wine cannot be effectively preserved except in expensive wooden barrels produced from the smaller dwindling forests within the Empire. The largest quantities of easily mined clay is actually within the borders of The Battanian Confederacy near the city of Pen Cannoc. Imperial traders will look to get trading rights within Battania in order to access this precious resource, and will pay highly for both shipments of Clay and finished pottery. Despite the Empire's wars with Battania, The Empire needs the resource, and so is willing to allow their traders to enrich their enemies for it when not actively fighting.Grain
Despite the large production from Lageta, there are still occasional food shortages within the Empire, as even a single bad year in Lageta can lead to famine. Thus, Grain supplies from Sanala in The Aserai Confederacy are essential to maintaining a stable food base. It is for this reason that no attempts have yet been made by any Imperial factions to retake the lands from the Aserai, as none want to jeopardize on of their main food sources.Furs/Amber
The Northern Fur and Amber trade has been dominated by the Tsardom of the Vaegirs ever since they overtook the Empire in the North. Other than for cold-weather protection, furs and amber have become luxury items and a status symbol for many of the Imperial elite. As such, Imperial traders are willing to put aside their distaste of their Northern neighbors to supply these in-demand luxuries.Lumber
The forests of The Western Calradian Empire have been logged for centuries, and the supply of viable forests throughout the Empire has dwindled over time. Old-Growth forests are needed to produce trees of sufficient size for building ships and for construction. The grand forest around Nazzareth is considered holy and is protected by Imperial decree, and so the only old-growth forests large enough to support industrial-scale logging are in Cardyyd Forest and near Ortysia. As such, in order to meet the needs of the empire, traders venture to forests in the North and West of the continent to acquire this valuable resource.
Legislative Body
Varies by sub-faction
Judicial Body
Varies by sub-faction
Executive Body
Varies by sub-faction
Deities
Location
Official Languages
Related Traditions
Related Ranks & Titles
Comments