Rosidor Empire

The Rosidor Empire, also known simply as Rosidor, is an empire in Mriyar, on Artan continent. Over the years, after the collapse of Magior Empire, the Rosidor Empire largely expanded its borders through wars and conquest of lands. It is ruled by the Triumvirate and Senate.

Contents

1. Locations
2. Society
3. Government
4. Industry & Trade
5. History
6. Trivia
7. Links

Notable Locations

Grozogorsk - the Capitol City of Rosidor Empire and base of operation of Triumvirate, as well the Senate. The city is surrounded by black stone walls, that seen their fair share of draconic fire, chaos brought by magisters and steel of crusaders swords. For years, Grozogorsk stands as a centre of political intrigues, secret meetings, revolutions and conspiracies. The Grand Triumanism Cathedral, that unites the Storm King, the Shapeshifter and the Raven Lady churches, has its own complex of buildings in the religious district, that partially serves as a training ground for battle clerics of said churches, as well as providing grounds for Emerald Archives - organization of arcane scholars and scientists, that are engaged in most of the Empires researches.

Emerald Snake Society Fortress - Emerald Snake Society are an organization of arcane researchers and powerful mages of Rosidor Empire, that focus on research of new and undiscovered parts of arcana, as well as inventing new spells, uses of magic in military and society, exploring magical anomalies, strange cases that involve magic, influences and abilities of alatria etc. The Fortress of Society is located in Tuman Lake, that is saturated with large stones of alatria, that increase magical power. Emerald Snake also serves as headquarters to special forces in Rosidor military, known as the Blades. They are special agents of arcane fighters, that are trained from early age to serve the Empire without hesitation. Emerald Snake Society is comprised from the Council of Magisters, with the leader of the council being the Head of Knowledge from the Triumvirate.

Zorotopol - the main port city of the Empire and centre of astronomical research, having their own Observatory, located on high hills. A lot of Zorotopol architecture includes star and celestial imagery. Most of the sea trade comes through its docks, and the city offers a large variety of sea transits into other places in Mriyar. In summer, Zorotopol's shores demonstrate a unique and beautiful nature oddity - the water fills with small bioluminescent plants, that make the shores glow in blue light at night.

Salair - Second port of the Empire and a large town, populated at large by refugees and their descendants from desecrated Lacivert Empire (now known as Lanetli Topkar). Salair has many thief and mercenary guilds that compete with each other for control over southern trading routes of Rosidor Empire. But the most influential among them is the Viper Society - a collective of thieves, cut-throats and assassins. Even though they act outside of law, many officials close eyes on their activities, sometimes hiring them for work. It is believed, that the White Crusade and modern church of Light originated from this town.

Velesaburg - center of education in Rosidor Empire, with a large number of academies and universities, that cover many professions in demand. Emerald Academy, a large complex, that serves as the prestige academy of arcane and modern science, is also located here. Serpent Eye Temple, grand temple dedicated to Veles, is situated near Rusalia Lake, having their own grove inside the temple complex.

Mevrilibr - important for cultural life of the Empire and one of its most beautiful cities. The city has many liberal arts schools and academies, as well as artistic workshops, theatres and gardens, that attract poets and artists from all over Empire. Many nobles have their residences here, spending spring and summer vacation among the beautiful streets of the city.

Vodichev - large merchant town, that attracts merchants and caravans from different parts of the world. Vodichev holds a yearly fair, that accepts hundreds of traders and craftsmen, though outside the fair the town still has an impressive amount of shops and constantly changing trade counters in their dominant Merchant District.

Avargrad - one of the oldest cities in Rosidor. According to history, a run-away dukes of the Grand Duchy of Sarkief, back in 2nd century, established this city. Avargrad has many libraries and archives, as well as large presence of priests of faith of Three.

Akkaran - religious centre of the Empire, and city, where happens the Grand Conclave - an event, where religious leaders of churches choose the Head of Faith in the Empire. Black Temple, the grand temple dedicated to Marzana, can also be found here. Many Raven Heralds are trained here, and Akkaran has the biggest amount of orphanages in the whole country.

Drezental - quite a lot of strange and disturbing tales surround Drezental, that even most of common folk try to avoid it, if possible. The city is ruled by a few strongest vampire clans, that gained citizenship and nobility in the Empire about a century after the White Crusade, as they provided quite useful services to the Crown. Under the Triumvirate, the clans established even more tight connections with the ruling forces of Rosidor, even agreeing to train and provide the military with a special blood mages/fighters, known as Blood Dancers. The city has a very eerie atmosphere to it, and quite a lot of illegal activity and groups from Wolf Valley or Volhovsk often find their way into Drezental.

Dreridg - large city, that was built back at the times of Magior Empire. It has the biggest population of high elves in the Empire, and is largely considered the heart of arcane research into alatria, due to many alatrian mines located near the city. The city has a very distinct elven feel to it, both culturally and in architecture. Adventurers would be able to find here many magical shops, that trade in enchanted, quite pricey things, as well as many products made from alatria. Here is located the Gilded Grove - place of worship dedicated to Veles.

Volhovsk - heart of illegal activity in the Empire. Due to proximity to Wolf Valley, illegal crime is a big problem, and the town is rumoured to be the centre of the criminal world, a swell as home to organizations such as the Midnight Company and Ice Rose. A lot of rumours talk about the Black Market of Rosidor being hidden in the underground part of the town, as well as the regular slave auctions.

Resaria - military town, that protects the lands from abyss corruption in Windless Sands. Mages and researchers try to find a way to once and for all put an end to resurgences of undead and monsters in this region. Additionally, the Temple of Steel and Fire, that's dedicated to Perun, can be found in the military district of the town.

Asaritsk - a mining town, that focuses on production of alatria and powder from it. It's also one of the towns, that handles the training of Nimean hounds.

People and Society

"No matter of their upbringing, social status, race, gender or preferences - each of the Rosidor citizens may reach the desired heights, if they have what it takes to bring prosperity and glory to the Empire."

"By the Triumvirate doctrine, each citizen must strive to embody three ideals in themselves - Strength, Knowledge and Faith. This is considered the only right way for prosperity and success, and if any of the three are weak, it could falter the Empire. Strength leads us to Knowledge, in Knowledge we seek Faith, and with Faith we defeat all our weaknesses, gaining Strength. "

Part of Rosidor culture, is constant vigilance and testing of each other's will and strength, as this is the only way to find the weakest links in the chain of society in a fastest way possible. This does lead to constant challenges and competitions among every single group of society and even those at the peak of power must always seek new ways to challenge themselves... or they will not remain in power for long.

Principles of meritocracy are applied not only to the physical and martial attributes, but also to expertise in politics, craftsmanship, trade, magic and everything that helps to create a stronger Empire.

By the Triumvirate doctrine, anyone can prosper in the Empire, so long as they have the strength of will, and the drive to succeed. Though, despite this meritocratic ideals, the old noble families still wield considerable power at the heart of the Empire, and some fear that the greatest threat to Rosidor comes not from its enemies, but from within.

Even with all the brightest ideals, that Rosidor tries to achive with meritocracy, the last decades already showed a number of problems. Large competitions cause many conspiracies and lies growing behind the backs of each competitor, and, even with "equality for all citizens" written down in the Triumvirate doctrine, a prominent part of prejudice to some non-human races (majorly orcs, tabaxi, bezomen). With a system, where only best-of-the-best can achive high status in their respectrive career, many professions lost flexibility in their candidates - which lead to narrowing of known skills and specializations in both working and intelectual populace. Another problem largely lies in maintaining of ones image, especially among higher-ups, which leads to fighting against crisism, be it justified or not. Corruption among elite is commonplace, even though it's severely punishable by law.

Common folk is subjected to everyday propaganda and are shielded from news from other countries and non-emperial information sources. As such, as a citizen of the Empire you need special permissions to leave its borders for any reason.

Another thing, that was already abandoned and banned by most prominent countries, is the slavery. Many of the Rosidoran cities have been built on the shoulders of its slaves, taken from the conquered lands or submitted into one. Quite a number of Rosidor citizens willingly sell themselves into slavery, to pay off the debts or out of a desperation. Those, who come to Rosidor and wish to become a full-fledged citizen of the Empire, must serve for 10 years either in military or in households of rich Rosidorans, who applied for acquiring of a servant - of course such servitude is not payed for, and by the end of these 10 years the person is left with nothing but the rights of a citizen. However, any slavery can be paid off and lasts only for 10 years. Even those, who have become a slave after their land was conquered, are allowed to become a rightful citizen of the Empire after the term has come to an end. Many slaves win their freedom in the tournaments and battle rings.

Every city has an assigned Namiestnik (or Steward) to govern and uphold Rosidor law and authority.

Races

Human - 70%

Half-elves - 7%

Elves - 5%

Dwarfs - 5%

Half-orcs - 3%

Bezomen - 3%

Tabaxi - 3%

Haflings - 3%

Other races (ex. Loxodon, Minotaur, Centaur) - less than 1%

Languages Spoken - Common, Rasian, Elven, Hafling, Dwarvish.

Autonomy - Drezental is the only town, that has a semi-autonomy, being ruled by a conclave of few oldest in the Rosidor noble clans.

Government

Government type - Empire. In the beginning, the Empire was ruled by the monarch from aristocratic families. The last emperor being Vladimir Raznikov the II, who was overthrown and subsequently killed in the events of the Red Dawn. After this, Grand General Ivar, alongside the Archmage Rommar and the Black Divine Laurene, took power into their own hands, creating a new ruling branch - the Triumvirate.

Nowadays, this Triumvirate, comprised of three equal leaders, known as Council of Three - Head of Strength, Head of Knowledge and Head of Faith, rules the Empire. Head of Strength is the leader of Rosidor Legion, as well as law branch; Head of Knowledge manages the governing branch, as well as educational and intelligence aspects; Head of Faith is the leader of religious branch of the Empire, which consists of three churches - church of the Shapeshifter, church of the Raven Lady and the church of the Storm King, and they are chosen on the Grand Conclave, that takes place in Akkaran.

The legislative branch of the Empire consists of the Senate. The Senate is a powerful body of 300 members that advise Triumvirate leaders. The members are comprised from the representatives of numerous noble houses, magistrates of upper lodge in Arcane Institute, namiestniks or stewards (the provincial rulers of the Empire) and elected representatives from towns.

Crime and Punishment

In the Empire, worship of other gods is prohibited, except for those officially recognised by the Empire (such as Veles, Perun, Marzana ). Anything that is recognized as heresy is severely punished, and in some cases may result in the death penalty.

Due to close proximity to Wolf Valley, illegal crime is a big problem, especially in the north of the Empire and specifically in Volkhovsk, which is rumored to be the center of illegal activities of organizations such as the Midnight Company and Ice Rose.

The Midnight Company is the largest criminal organization on Sarmatan Continent, that was originally established in the roots of the Empire. They abide by the Code, having a strong rule set that prohibits selling of drugs to children, as well as intentional harm towards those from lower layers of society. This being said, they still don't shy away from human trafficking, illegal substances, selling of prohibited weapons and artifacts, robberies and extortion. They often provide their services to assassins and mercenaries, as well as some military officials.

The main rival of Midnight Company in Rosidor is Ice Rose - a criminal organisation, that originated from the Wolf Valley and is rumored to be controlled by the Wolf Lords - ruling elite of the Valley. The Ice Rose doesn't shy away from assisting the society unrests, arranging illegal fights without rules and creating cartels. They are dominating the Black Market on Saarma and Artan continents, having a lot of connections even with the Underworld slave traders and drug dealers. Many low lives, failing to find success in Rosidor meritocracy system, find their place among the Ice Rose.

Cult of the Broken Crown deserves a special attention - it's a secret society of the Justicemaker's worshippers, who believe that only in the world with hard-defined hierarchies and a ruler, who governs his country with a steel hand, can there be peace and prosperity. They constantly try to manipulate political leaders and influential aristocrats into believing of such ideas. Their agents have been part of the most political conspiracies in Rosidor.

Another important organization is based in Salair- in the past, one of the port cities of Lacivert Empire (now known as Lanetli Topkar), but now part of the Rosidor Empire and town with largest population of Lacivertians, that escaped their dying homeland. Salair has many thief and mercenary guilds that compete with each other for control over southern trading routes of Rosidor Empire. But the most influential among them is the Viper Society - a collective of thieves, cutthroats and assassins. Even though they act outside of law, many officials close eyes on their activities, sometimes hiring them for work.

Red Griffins - a police unit of Rosidor, that is responsible for maintaining order and peace in towns and villages of Rosidor. They also fight the underground activity and illegal trafficking coming from the Wolf Valley and investigate crimes.

Black Guard - unit of elite guards in Grozogorsk, that is tasked with protecting the Triumvirate leaders against any threats.

Allies and Adversaries

Military

Over the years Rosidor Empire exponentially expanded its borders through conquering of closest lands. In its expansion on other territories and cities across Sarmatan, many of the conquared nations have been brought under heavy rule of Rosidor, and many people have been taken into slavery.

The Blades - an elite band of warmages under the direct command of Head of Knowledge. Trained in the Emerald Academy in Velesaburg. Main headquaters located in Emerald Snake Society Fortress.

Nimean Hounds - warhound riders from Nimea region of the Empire. They are famous for their resilience and bloodthirst, making them as strong as unpredictable in the midst of a fight. Some say, that warhounds can endure excruciating pain and even still try bite everything that gets too close to them, when they already are dead from their wounds.

Blood Dancers - a special unit of bloodmages and blood fighters, that fights with curved blades. Some rumors say, that the unit is comprised out of high ranking vampires.

Crimson Legion - the most elite and loyal military unit in Rosidor Empire.

Industry & Trade

Trade, Guilds and Market

Zlato & Bogato Co. - a large trading guild that specializes on general goods and some exotic things from different parts of Mriyar. The guild is controlled by halfling and goblin. They are known to operate even in Dangean Kingdom, despite the war between the Empire and Dangean. The headquarters are located in Krasniy Hut.

The Sparkling Sparrow - a military store chain that deals with arcane goods, weapons and armor. Sparkling Sparrow also offers services of enchanters and alchemists. Though most of its stock and services are available for Rosidor militia and officials only, they do offer some portion of it to general public.

Research and Arcane

All of arcane and scientific research conducted in Empire is first and foremost focused on military efforts. Throughout the years, imperial researchers uncovered many ruins of Magior Empire, and with them - magic artefacts and research of ancient magic. Most of the arcane experiments and progress happens in Emerald Snake Society fortress, on the small piece of land in Tuman lake.

Emerald Academy is a large complex, that serves as the prestige academy of arcane and modern science.

Dreridg and Caledopol are the cities where happens most of research in alatria properties, as well as testing of new types of energy, weapons and experiments over creation of alatrian automatons - extremely durable and invincible to magic influence servants, that were primary used during Magior Empire.

Farming & Mining

Most of the farming fields are located on the southern territories of the Empire, in Morsov, Sirka and Nimea provinces. Slamver, Avatir and Kotovo are one of the largest towns with farming activity. Vereya is famous for its wine fields.

There are many mines around the Empire, the biggest being the golden mines in Gorsk, noble metal mines and alatrian mines in Brezna and iron mines in Gorfur. Large iron mines are located in Grunshtadt.

Customs

Religion - main religion revolves around the churches of the Shapeshifter, the Storm King and Raven Lady. Quite often, the religion is addressed as Triumanism (or faith of Three), and the worshippers - triumanists. Worship of any other deity is prohibited in the Empire and is severely punished.

Temples

Temple of the Storm - grand temple dedicated to all three main deities, located in Grozogorsk.

Black Temple - grand temple dedicated to Marzana, located in Akkaran.

Serpent Eye Temple - grand temple dedicated to Veles, located in Velesaburg.

Temple of Steel and Fire - dedicated to Perun, located in Resaria.

Gilded Grove - place of worship dedicated to Veles, located in Dreridg.

Steel Crown Temple - ruins of temple dedicated to Karna, located not too far from Kimivresh, in Broken Crown Hills.

Ruins of Dark Zikkurat - place of worship of Temriaz, located somewhere in the region of Screaming Mountains.

Guilds and Factions

Sand Raiders - the Sand Raiders are deadly bandits covered in tattoos which indicated the level of their allegiance. Their clothes are completely black with the purpose to strike fear in the caravans traveling in southern parts of the Empire. They hide under the sands, waiting for the caravans to get closer, and leave no one alive in their attacks.

Witcher Order are an international and legendary organization of skilled warriors and monster hunters who for centuries hunted down many dangerous monsters and mutated beasts, as well as influencing the course of history by the orders of their Wishchuns (or Diviners). Before the Rupture, they were known as "heralds of Creators", their main force of action on Mriyar, as the knowledge of creating Witchers was granted specifically by the Great Huntress, the Shapeshifter and the Storm King, while the specifically trained magic users, Wishchuns, were created by the Dreamweaver. After the Rupture, they were almost completely ostracized from society, blamed for the events of the War of the Burning Skies, and for a very long time hunted down, just as the monsters the Witchers were tasked to kill. As the centuries gone by though, and the number of monsters grew on the lands, people started to once again hiring services of the Witchers, though the blatant hostility towards them remained. Depending on the Keep, Witchers belong to 3 different Schools - Wolves (Sire Manec Keep), Vixen (Lysar Nor Keep) and Bears (Gavra Keep) - and have a different set of special skills. In Rosidor, their headquarters are located in Lysar Nor Keep.

Stjornflar - a group, or rather a wandering caravan, of elves, that follow the Way of Stars - a series of relatively new Star Prince's teachings, which claim that only through wandering and searching all over the world can elves find their native land, Undirstjarna, that they abandoned after the Lunar Discord. The caravan never stays for long in one place, always searching for hints of location of their destination, be it by getting access to libraries, or searching old ruins. The caravan was made out of group of refugees, that escaped Alfagras Woods, when the lands were put under terrible influence of chaotic energies and magic by magisters of Magior Empire, around the beginning of 6th century. Stjornflar broke any contact with their remaining bretheren in Heimalsjournualf, that decided to stay back, abiding by old traditions, and try to live in the cursed lands, hoping to find a way to cleanse it, even if the task proves to be rather hopeless; Stjornflar stays away from the high elves of Rosidor Empire as well, as either group doesn't keep any warm feelings towards each other, ever since the times of Magior Empire. Even though the elder members of the caravan are set on finding "the promised land", many of the younger elves, or those who joined the caravan later, over the centuries got used to the wandering lifestyle and now do it as a way of honouring Zorren and his teachings, as well as finding joy in constant travelling over the ever changing lands of Saarma and Artan continents. Over the years, the caravan lost many of their members, be it because of illnessess, conflicts with other races or dangers of roads. The fact that the elven race started suffering from unexplainable affliction or mutation around 7th century, that drastically lowered the birthrate of pure-blooded elves, made any losses in the caravan that more painful - but it also made a rare birth of pure-blooded elven child a cause for celebration.

The Сat Clan - led by Madame Folta, an elegant and well-spoken woman, it is a well orginized international guild of highly trained escorts and confidantes for hire, who specialize in spying and finding secrets out about their targets. Most often they are used as a source of secret information or dissemintaion of gossips and lies. They have no government affiliation and often have a member in every place people of power go for comfort. Their base of operation is in a hufe, gaudy establishment known as Singing Redstart, in Zorotopol, which fronts as an upper class casino/brothel/bar.

Chainbreakers - a terrorist organization that is rumored to originated from Wolf Valley and consists of Semargl worshippers. Their main goal is to completely get rid of ruling class and influence of noble families over world politics, as well as oppresion of other social groups. Though noble in some ways and causes, they don't shy away from terrorist attacks, creating of lethal social unrests and manipulation of social views of any current events, in order to create chaos in the Empire and Dangean Kingdom.

The Rulespeakers - a company that deals in large public fights, competitions and sport events. In an imperial society, where people live by constantly challenging each other, they have a lot of freedom (and sponsor money) to organize non-lethal competitive events with different prizes.

The Whisper Troupe - a quite large guild of bards and some rogues. They work as secret messengers, passing information through secret codes, cants, and sometimes in public through songs and performances. Some bards travel on their own, while others hide in a traveling troupes.

History

Vicebarevn War

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War of the Burning Skies

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The Rupture

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Soulplague

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Odnekrov Wars

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Hunt for Dragons

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Creation of Arcane city-states

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Collapse of Magior Empire

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White Crusade

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Red Dawn

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Trivia

Parts of Rosidor are inspired by Russian and Middle-Eastern cultures.

Links

Icon was made by Felixora

Founding Date - 235 ES (Founding of Avatir, capital of Yakaran Kingdom), 575 ES (Founding of Rosidor Kingdom), 690 ES (Rosidor Empire)

Alternative Name(s) - Rosidor, Red Empire.

Formed from - former Yakaran Kingdom, Yanichar Kingdom, Nimea Kingdom, Sirka lands, Dandelia Kingdom, various free cities.

Capital - Grozogorsk.

Provinces - Altaya, Cheshet, Karelia, Yakaran, Morsov, Sirka, Nimea, Rasmar.

Head of the state - Triumvirate, made out of Head of Strength, Head of Vision, Head of Faith. Current Triumvirate consist of:

Head of Strength - Grand General Ivar

Head of Knowledge - Magister Rommar

Head of Faith - Black Divine Laurene

Legislative branch - the Senate. The Senate is a powerful body of 300 members that advise Triumvirate leaders.

Type

Geopolitical, Country