Ley Empire of Gnomekin

"Is it an empire? I know that they call it that but they're gnomes. I doubt you'd ever see a gnomish army claiming territory or demanding tribute. They exist here and there, bit by bit, and that's it. If anything I'd call it a cultural movement, not an empire."
~Grandmaster Jeren, of the Golden Tower

Structure

The Ley Empire is made up of tiny settlements built up around ley nodes, connected by a web of teleportation circles. The central government of this empire is far away geographically, on another continent (though where exactly this is varies wildly depending on which gnome you ask)

Public Agenda

The obsession of the Ley Empire is progress, combining all previous knowledge with experimentation to catapult technology and magic into the future.

Demography and Population

Almost all gnomes are considered by the Ley Empire to be members, and only gnomes.

Territories

The Ley Empire of Gnomekin is entirely dependent on the network of Ley Lines it controls. Using special teleportation circles, it has converted these lines into magical highways, connecting the disparate parts of itself into a cohesive whole. 
Individual outposts are usually quite small, no larger than a hamlet with a few dozen gnome families at most. They busy themselves with the strengthening and protection of the lines. The empire is never seen as a threat because these villages aren't usually in places that are traditionally strategic or important in any way other than for their magical background radiation, and the outposts are never large enough to pose a serious threat to regional governments.

Military

When violence is necessary, gnome strike teams travel the Ley Lines to insert themselves where they can do harm. They generally concentrate on surgical strikes aimed at harming law and order or the economy, and then withdraw before anyone knows they were even there.

Religion

For the last millennium or so, gnomes have been systematically turning against Demiurgery in favor of reverence of the Aincuggesnirviclagillipog. While not a religion or even a true cult, the gnomes putting their faith into the Difference Engine are just as passionate as the deepest Deminite.

Foreign Relations

Due to the nature of the empire, it largely ignores and is ignored by other political entities.

Agriculture & Industry

Gnomes produce goods as any society does, sending their excess mundane goods into the Ley Lines for market. Additionally, they are expert tinkerers, and ahead of all other races in clockwork and steampower.

Trade & Transport

The Ley Empire uses Ley Lines as a highway system. The teleportation circles they have erected connect their empire, and even a small settlement has access to markets in larger gnome cities like the northern section of Karakadaw

Education

The central capital of the Ley Empire has a university that all interested gnomes can attend.

Type

Geopolitical, Empire

Power Structure

Thalassocracy

Economic System

Mixed economy

Major Exports

The Ley Empire exports clocks, steam curiosities, and arcano-engineered crafts such as scrolls, wands and potions.

Major Imports

Gnomes pay top coin for any machines recovered from ancient ruins. Blueprints are worth more to them than a freshly discovered gold mine.

Subsidiary Organizations

• Gondola Corps

Related Ranks & Titles

• Emperor August Gnomicci

Controlled Territories

• Teknokraticonica

Notable Members

• Aincuggesnirviclagillipog